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BA MPT ON DEANERV MANOR HOUSE. 












HISTORY 


OF THE PARISH AND TOWN OF 



WITH TIIE DISTRICT AND HAMLETS BELONGING TO IT. 


TIIE. REV. J> A * GILES, D. C. L., 

LATE FELLOW OF C. C. C. OXFORD, 

author of “ History of the Ancient Britons,” the “ Life and letters 
of Thomas a Becket,” the “ Life and Times of Alfred the 

Great,” &c. 


SECOND EDITION, 

ENLARGED AND CORRECTED. 



BAMPTON, 

PRINTED AT TIIE AUTHOR’S PRIVATE PRESS i 

1848. 





IlrUao 

18 ^ 8 


205449 

v?13 












' 



CONTENTS. 


Preface to the second edition. 

Dedication ...... 

1. Introduction . 

2. Description of Banipton in its present state. 

3. Of the climate, soil, and population of Bampton Parish... 

4. Of the town of Bampton . 

5. Of the parish-church of Bampton. 

6. Of the vicars and church-establishment of Bampton. 

7. Order and succession of the vicars of Bampton .. 

8. Parish-registers, no longer in use, kef)t in the small 

iron chest . 

9. Of the vestry-books. 

10. Deeds in the great iron chest . 

11. Of the police and civil government of Bampton. 

12. The town-hall.. 

13. The public amusements of Bampton, St. Stephen’s break¬ 

fast, circuiting, fairs, morris-dancers, mummers... 

14. The haunted house, and death warning of the Wood 

family. 

15. Bampton castle . 

16. Legend of the lady-well. 

17. Ghost of Cow-leas corner . 

18. Of the trade and occupation of the inhabitants . 

10. Aston . 

20. Of the system of farming which prevails at Aston and 

Cote, rights of common, &c. 

21. Cote. 

22. Cote chapel. 

23. Cote House. 

24. Shifford . 

25. Chimney . 

26. Brighthampton . 

27. Lew. 

28. Of the public charities of Bampton . 

29. Manors of Bampton, Bampton deanery, Aston, and 

Shifford . 

30. Past history of Bampton, chronologically arranged . 

APPENDIX OF ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS, &c. 
I.King Alfred’s parliament at Shifford A. D. 890 . 


page 7 
9 

11 

15 

19 

21 

23 

30 

33 


40 

45 

53 

53 

54 


60 

64 

66 

68 

72 

73 

75 

82 

82 

84 

86 

87 

87 

87 

88 

102 

110 


125 

































6 


CONTENTS. 


II. Charter of Leofric to the church of Exeter A. D. 104G... page 126 


III. Survey of Hampton, A. I). 1086 . 127 

IV. Charter of king Henry III, dated March 10 , 1219, grant¬ 

ing the manor ot Bampton to William de Valence. 127 

V. Inquisition, copy of the hundred-roll of Bampton and As¬ 

ton, 7th Edward I. [A. 1). 1278-9] . 128 

VI. Pleas of assize held at Oxford in the 13th year of Edward 

I, [A. D. 1285.] 130 

VII. Inquisition of King Edward II, dated Nov. 28 and Dec. 

1312 . 132 

VIII. Inquisition of king Eilward II, dated Dec. 9 and 20, 

A. D. 1327 . 133 


IX. Inquisition ot king Edward III, Jan. 26 A. D. 1329 ... 

X. Grant of free-warren to Richard Talbot 14 Edw. Ill, Ap. 

10 . A. D. 1341... 

XI. Inquisition of 30th of Edw. Ill, A. D. 1357 . 

XII. Inquisition of 36th of Edw. Ill, A. I). 1365. 

XIII. Inquisition of 41st of Edw. Ill, A. D. 1367 . 

XIV. Extract, 21st Edw. IV. Ap. 6 , 1481. 

XV. Extract from Henry VIII s grant of the lands of En- 

sham Ahbey to Edward North A. D. 1543. 

XVI. Catalogue of Natural & artificial curiosities in Oxford¬ 

shire . 

XVII. Inquisition concerning Bampton Grammar-School 

A. D.1637 . 

XVIII. Sale of moiety of Bampton-deanery manor, A. D. 

1650 . 

XIX. Appointment of first master to grammar-school A. D. 

1653 . 

XX. Inquisitions taken at Bampton A. D. 1680 . 

XXI. Hudson's pamphlet on the Bampton charities, reprinted 

XXII. Orders and statutes for the grammar-school 1731-2... 
XXIII. Inscriptions from Bampton church and church-yard 

XXIV. Do. from Aston. XXV. Lew. XXVI. Shifford. 

XXVII. Do. from Cote chapel . 

XXVIII. The Christmas play, a mummery &c. 

POSTSCRIPT TO THE FIRST EDITION. 

ILLUSTRATIONS. 


135 


136 

137 
137 

139 
110 

140 

141 
145 
147 

150 

151 
155 
160 
161 

174 

175 

176 
178 


\ 1 . Bampton-Deanery manor-house .to face title. 

2 and 3. Town-hall, and High Street ..p. 21 

4 and 5. Vicarage, and West view of Bampton church-30 

6 and 7. Ruins of castle, and deanery ....g j. 

8 and 9. Seal found at Aston, and Aston Cross . 7 ;} 

10 and 11 . Cote House, and Shifford church .... 84 

^12 and 13. Lew church, and House at Lew belonging to 

T. Denton, esq . ......... _87 

*14 Bampton Grammar-School ... 99 
































Preface. 


The first edition of this volume having been rapidly dis¬ 
posed of, in consequence of the interest it created in the 
inhabitants of the small town, to which it relates, this new 
edition has been printed, partly to supply the demand which 
still existed in the town itself, and partly for the use of 
those who are fond of collecting Antiquarian and Topo¬ 
graphical Works. Much additional information has been 
introduced, and perhaps a few scraps, that might have been 
procured, may still have been omitted. Such are the fol¬ 
lowing, which arrived too late to be inserted in their pro¬ 
per places. 


Page 40. Add to the list of vicars the following from 
White Kennctt, new ed. vol. i, pp. 64, 73, 554, and ii, p. 
] 30. 

A. D. 1367, May 3, John Ilolrigge, by the death of Tho¬ 
mas de Bonlegh. 

A. D. 1400, June 9, John Widelond, by death of John 
Holrygg. 

A. D. 1498, Dec. 5, Edmund Willisford, S. T. P., by the 
resignation of William Clerk. 

A. D. 1499, Sept. 21, Richard More by the death of John 
Pope. 

A. D. 1500, Sep. 20, William Wood, M. A. by the resig¬ 
nation of Richard More. 


8 


PREFACE. 


A. D. 1500, Dec. 15, Thomas IToye, by the death of Ro- 
bert Holeot. 

A. D. 1506, Dec. 19, John Southwode S. T. 13., by the re¬ 
signation of Edmund Wylleford. 

A. D. 1585. Nov. 22, Henry Walmysley, M. A. 

A. D. 1595, May J6, Humphrey Hargrave, by the resigna¬ 
tion of Robert Sibthorp, M. A. 

A. D. 1595, July 14, Robert Joye, M. A. by the death of 
Henry Doltin. 

A. D. 1598, July 7, John Ilowson, M. A., by the death of 
Humphrey Hargrave. 

Page 86. In the R awl in son MS. are the following notices 
of arms and painted glass which existed in Old Shifford 
church. 

“ Agt Nth wall of Chancell with arms : 

Or : ehev. sab. between 3 black lions rampant of the second, 
impaling az. a bend or, between 3 liirs of the same. 

• •••••• 

In one of the South windows are three figures, one of a wo¬ 
man, the other two men; under the woman Sancta Marta, 
under the 2 men Sanctus Jacobus— Sanctus Anton ius. 
Near the latter his pig stands under the same light. In the 
east wall of the church, Christopher Keene, Thomas Stampe, 
Steven Greene and William Linsey, churchwardens of this 
parish, anno Domini 1608.” 

Page 94. In the Oxford Institution-books, No VII, 
p. 147. 

A. D. 1831, June 8. The Honorable and Right Reverend, 
Richard, Bishop of Oxford, licensed the Rev. AY alter Postumns 
Powell, clerk, B. A. to the Grammar-School, on the nomina¬ 
tion ol the three vicars, the Rev. C. L. Kerby, Rev. John Rob¬ 
inson, * and Rev. Dr. Winstanley, and the Trustees of the 
Grammar-School. 

* This is an evident error : two vicars have been made out of one, 
the Rev. Dr. John Robinson Winstanley. The institution-books 
abound in such mistakes. 


TO 


FREDERICK WHITAKER ESQUIRE, OF BAMPTON, 
ONE OF IIER MAJESTY’S JUSTICES OF THE PEACE 
FOR THE COUNTY OF OXFORD, 

THIS HISTORY OF HIS NATIVE TOWN 
IS DEDICATED 

BY HIS SINCERE FRIEND AND FAITHFUL SERVANT 

THE AUTHOR. 




2 




HISTORY 


\ 


of 

B AMP TON. 


The geography of Britain, as of all the modern countries of 
Europe, has undergone at least two, perhaps in some parts 
three changes of nomenclature since the beginning of the Chris¬ 
tian era. The names of places, which occur in early British 
history, whilst the ancient Britons still enjoyed independence, 
were mostly altered or modified by the Romans. The Italian 
pronunciation still delights to give euphony to the Teutonic and 
Celtic names of the north, by adding vowels and syllabic termi¬ 
nations to the uncouth consonants of the native idiom.* 

After the departure of the Romans, the country, now called 
England, but at that time Britain, was invaded and conquered 
by the Saxons. The first leaders of this tribe of barbarians, 
Hengist and Horsa, landed about the year of our Lord 449, and at 
the end of a hundred and fifty years, during which there were 
continual wars between them and the Britons, we find that the 
names of most of the towns were changed or in some way 
modified by the new-comers.f 


* The British prince, who bravely opposed the invasion of Julius Caesar, is thought to- 
have been called Caswallon in his native tongue; but the classic ears of the Roman inva¬ 
ders softened the term into the more flowing majesty of Cassibellaunus or Cassibelinus. 

Cunobelin or Cunobelinus was another British prince of note : he is called Cymbeline by 
Shakespeare. 

Many instances of this change of name occur in history. In some cases, when the sound 
suits the idioms of both languages, a change of spelling alone takes place. Thus. 
Daubigny, a freebooting captain of the fifteenth century, is called D’Obigni by the polite 

Italians, whose purses he took from them. 

t In proof of this observation, we have several instances in the Ecclesiastical His¬ 
tory of Venerable Bede, where two names are given to the same place. Thus in the 






12 


HISTORY OF BAMPTON. 


In the year 1066, William the Conqueror landed at Hastings, 
and in the course of his reign nearly all the baronies and great 
fiefs of the crown changed hands and became the property of 
the Norman lords, who accompanied the duke. We can¬ 
not doubt that many places, of less note or situated in remote 
districts, received new names according to the fancy or caprice 
of their new owners. 

To these causes may be mainly ascribed the great difficulty, 
which we have in identifying places, as described in ancient 
authors, with towns and villages still existing. 

There is little doubt that the town of Bampton is one of the 
oldest in England. The etymology of the name shows it to 
be of Ancient British origin, unchanged by the tide of Anglo- 
Saxon invasion, which swept away so much of British laws, 
customs, and language. The termination -ton, which marks 
so many names of towns all over the island, is spelt in nearly 
all old manuscripts -tune, and was probably at first pronounced, 
as the modern Scotch pronounce it, -toon. A large number 
of English towns end with the syllable -don, and this termi¬ 
nation also is written -dun or -dune in ancient manuscripts. 

It is not to be denied that these terminations -ton and 
-don are also Anglo-Saxon forms, * * and pass for such among 
lexicographers: but those who rellect on the numerous 
names of towns, ending in -dinum See. and existing over 
all Ancient Britain and Gaul, long before the invasion of the 
Saxons, can hardly avoid the inference that the Celtic language 


second chapter of the first hook, he says, “ The blessed Alban suffered death on the 
22nd of June, near the city of Verulam, which is now by the English nation called 
Verlamacestir or Varlingacestir.” 

* It is the prevailing opinion,that the Anglo-Saxons entirely exterminated the Britons : 
but this is surely a mistake. The inhabitants of all the south of Britain, in the time of 
Julius Caesar, were of Belgic, not of Celtic descent, and it is probable that they were a 
kindred race to the Anglo-Saxons. If so, the victorious Anglo-Saxons would not extor- 




HISTORY OF BAMPTON. 


13 


was the source from which flowed those Saxon names 
of towns ending in -don and -ton, as was before observed. 

If then this theory be correct, — and I think it is hardly 
susceptible of a doubt, — it remains to enquire what was the 
primitive signification of these syllables -ton, -don, -tune, 
-dune, -dunum, dinum, &c. from which are derived the 
modern English words -town and -down. Now the theory 
that these words are of British or Celtic origin, is much 
strengthened by the fact that the French language, which, like 
the English, derives many words from the old Celtic, still 
retains the word dune denoting a height or eminence, 
generally of an open or exposed character, and similar in 
appearance to that particular kind of country which we call 
a down. If therefore we can discover any connection be¬ 
tween the idea of a town, as we at present understand 
the word, and that of a down, we shall hove no difficulty 
in proving that -ton, -tune, -don, -dune, -down, and town 
are different modifications of the same word, and, as far 
as etymology is concerned, denote the same thing. Such a 
connection is not difficult to find, when we reflect that the 
towns of the Ancient Britons were all strongholds, erected 
on downs or heights, according to the description given of 

them bv Caesar and other ancient writers. 

* 


minate,but amalgamate with the subdued Britons, and their future dialect would show tra¬ 
ces of the union. The same view of the subject is taken by Sir Francis Palgrave : “ It may¬ 
be remarked, that the influence of conquest was often counteracted and neutralized 
by the affinity of the conquering and the conquered nations. The waves which flowed 
in the same channel usually proceeded from the same source. Thus, in England, the 
original Belgic population of Lloegria, and their despoilers, and those who subdued the 
vanquished victors were all brethren : Britons and Anglo-Saxons, Danes and Normans, 
were all relations however hostile, they were all kinsmen, shedding kindred blood : and 
even when the races were not so nearly connected, the pervading resemblances of the laws 
of the earlier ages contributed to lighten the yoke of conquest, and to disguise the innova¬ 
tions which were really effected by the transfer of sovereignty.'’ palgrave’s rise and 
progress op the ANGto-sAxoN commonweaeth . 4to Part 1, London, 1832, p. 35 



14 


HISTORY OF BAMPTON 


These observations will lead the reader to perceive from 
etymology that the word Bampton is at all events as old as 
the Anglo-Saxons, and probably of Ancient British origin, t 
This inference would be conclusive, if we could trace the 
first syllable of the word Bampton to an equally early 
origin, but I am not acquainted with any Celtic or An¬ 
cient British word from which the syllable bam can have been 
derived; its etymology is pure Saxon, and it is written in 
that language beam, which like baum in German signifies a 
'tree/ though the term has after many centuries been nar¬ 
rowed in application, until it signifies no longer the living 
tree, but the log or trunk of it, after it has been felled and 
hewn, and placed as a main-timber or beam to support the 
roof or ceiling of a house. 


t Since writing as above, I have received a letter from the Rev. John Jones, Vicar 
of Nevern, and one of our first Welsh scholars. He refers me to Dr John Davies’s 
Welsh-Latin dictionary printed in London, A. D. 1632, and to Dr. Owen Pughe’s 
English-Welsh Dictionary. 

From the former of these works he extracts the following meanings : 

“din, idem quod Dinas. 

dinas, civitas, urbs. heb .Medinah, urbs, Pagn. in ... Dun. Arab. Medinaton.” 

From the latter: 

“ din, a fortified hill or mount; a camp ; a fort. It forms the names of a great num¬ 
ber of places in those countries which were inhabited by the cvmry or Ancient Britons. 
Hence the -dunum, -dinum or the -dinium, of the Romans; -tune, -don, -ton, 
and town of the English.” 

To these extracts may be added the following from Boswortli’s Anglo-Saxon dic¬ 
tionary. 

“ DUN,E,f. [Plat. Ger. dune, f. Dut. duinen, m. pi.. Dan. dynerne, f. pi. Frs. dune, 
1. Celt. Bret. TUN.f.] a mountain,hill, downs; mons,—[then follow references to passages 
in the Anglo-Saxon Bible]— f of dune, adune, down, down-ward. 

tun, Es;m. [Plat. TUUN, m. a hedge, garden: Dut. TuiN,m. a garden, hedge: Ger. 
za un, m. a hedge ; old Ger. tune, zun : Not. steinzun, a wall; Icel. tun,, n. viridarium, 
pratumdomesticum; Wei. din, DiNAs.acity: Gael. tuin,L a dwelling-place : Ir. Gael. 
dun, m. a fortress, tower, a fortified hill, a hill, hedge, heap : Ir. taim, f. a. town — tynan 
to enclose.] 1. a place fenced round or enclosed : septum quodvis. 2. A field, yard, farm, 
local possession : prmdium, fundus, ager, possessio. 3. A place of residence, house, dwell¬ 
ing) village, town, a territory lying within the bounds of a town. liabitaculum, domus, 
vicus, villa, oppidum. 4. A class, course, turn; classis.” 

Then follow examples of the use of the word 




HISTORY OF BAMPTON. 


15 


It would appear, then, from this etymology, that the name 
bampton is equivalent to tree-town,t and we are at once 
led to conjecture that this appellation was given to it from 
the woody character of the surrounding country. There is, 
indeed, no doubt that the whole tract of country in which 
it is situated, like all swampy places frequently subject to 
inundation, was covered with a large forest, in memory of which 
the name of “ Bampton in the Bush/’ distinguishing the 
town from others, its namesakes, has descended even to our 
own times. J 

§ 2. DESCRIPTION OF BAMPTON IN ITS PRESENT STATE. 

Leaving then the etymology of the name as sufficiently 
ascertained for our present purpose, I shall proceed to 
describe the parish in its present state, with reference 
to its position in the county of Oxford, the nature of its 
soil, and its bearings in regard to other towns and places 
of greater importance in its vicinity. 

A very slight inspection of the map of England will shew 
that the river called successively the Isis and the Thames, 
for a length of about 100 miles, forms a boundary between 
the counties of Oxfordshire and Berkshire. This noble 
stream leaves Glocestershire near the small village of Kelms- 
cott and flowing eastwards takes a bend, first towards the 
north and afterwards back to the south so as to enclose a 
large projecting part of Berkshire. It then makes a large 
bend towards the east, and again ascending towards the 

t The explanation of Beamdune found in Bosworth’s Anglo- > axon dictionary. 

“beam-dune, beam a tree, dune a hill. 

The name of many places in England, so called, from their elevated position, covered with 
wood, now corrupted into Bampton. Chr. 614.” 

I Some of the oldest inhabitants of Bampton have informed me that in the days of 
their fathers, i. e. about the year 1750, there was a large hawthorn tree growing in 
the middle of the market place, near which stood an ancient cross formed out of 
very massive stones. Perhaps, this was the hawthorn with white berries mentioned 
in the “Catalogue of natural and artificial curiosities &c.” given in the Appendix. 



iG 


HISTORY OF BAMPTON 


north and enclosing in its course all the southern half of 
Oxfordshire, it quits the county at the market-town of Henley 
upon Thames. 

At the south-western corner of Oxfordshire, and lying on 
the north side of the river, is the hundred of Bampton, 
which, besides the market-town and parish of Bampton with 
its various hamlets, contains the large and ancient towns oi 
Witney and Burford, the township of Grafton, the parishes 
of Alvcscott, Asthall, Asthall Leigh, Black Bourton other¬ 
wise called Borcton or Burton Abbat’s, Bradwcll, Broughton 
Boggs, Clanfield, Ducklington, Bilkins, Harley, Hardwicke, 
Kelmscott, Kencott, Brize-Norton, Radcot, Standlake, Upton, 
Signet, Westwell, lelford, and the chapelry of Holwell. 
The hundred of Bampton is cut off from the rest of the 
county by the river Windrush or Wainrus, which, leaving 
Gloucestershire near Burford, separates the hundred of Bamp¬ 
ton from that of Wootton, and passing on to Witney bends 
towards the south, and, after forming a boundary line between 
Bampton and Chadlington hundred, falls into the Isis near 
New Bridge in the parish of Standlake. The parish of Bamp¬ 
ton is the most southerly in the hundred to which it gives 
a name, and is bounded on the south by the river Isis which 
skirts it for a distance of about 8 miles between the par¬ 
ishes of Standlake on the east and Clanfield on the west. 
The boundary line, where it quits the river on the east, 
touches successively on the parish of Standlake, Hardwick - 
field, Yelford, Ducklington, Curbridge a hamlet in the pa¬ 
rish of Witney, Brize-Norton, Blackbourton, and Clanfield, 
after which it again joins the river on the western side 
of the parish about a mile short of Badcot bridge. 

This large parish is distant about 7 miles SE. by S. 
from Burford, G SW. by W. from Witney, and about 


HISTORY OF BAMPTON. 


17 


14 miles W. from Oxford in a strait line through the parishes 
of Standlake and North-moor, across Bablock-hythe ferry, and 
from thence through the grounds of the Earl of Abingdon 
and the village of Cumnor, to Oxford. The communication 
between Bampton and London has always been attended 
with many difficulties, resulting partly from the nature of 
the country, * and partly from its not being situated near any 
of the great high-roads which connect London with the pro* 
vinces. Whilst on the south or Berkshire side of the river 
the country rises suddenly into a long chain of hills extending 
for many miles east and west, and leaving little or no in¬ 
terval between their foot and the water’s edge, the country on 
the side of Oxfordshire expands into a large plain, reaching 
from Cumnor in the east to beyond Eairford in the west, a 
distance of from twenty to thirty miles. In this extent of 
country, bordering on the north bank of the river Isis, some 
parts of the parish of Bampton are the very lowest, lying, here 
and there, almost as low as the river’s bed,* so that 
an inundation is a matter of frequent occurrence, and in 
winter many thousand acres are covered with water. The 
length of Bampton parish is about 6 miles from its most 
eastern hamlet, Brighthampton, to its western boundary on the 
Clanfield road. In this direction the country is perfectly flat 
with hardly the slightest rise or undulation of surface; but 
its width, which extends from Tadpole bridge in the south 
to Lew, the most northerly hamlet of Bampton parish, is 
about 4 miles, of which the last mile and half is a gradual 


* John Bedwell, the present bedel of Bampton, informs me that, in his fathers time, 
there was no stoned road of any kind leading from Bampton to the neighbouring 
towns and villages, and that travellers were in the habit of striking across the com¬ 
mon, by which the town was surrounded, and finding their way to Witney, Burford, 
Oxford or any other place, in the best way they could, as is done to this very day 
in the deserts of Arabia and Africa. 


3 





HISTORY OF BAMPTON. 


IS 

rise towards a line of low hills running from Hardwicke and 
Standlake fields in the East, through Yelford and Lew, where 
it rises to its highest elevation at Lew Barrow, and falls 
away gradually on all sides between the parishes of Brize- 
Norton, Black-Boreton and Ken cot. 

In the midst of the flat bounded on the north by the Lew 
hills and on the south by the river Isis, is situated the 
town of Bampton, at about equal distances from the north¬ 
ern and southern boundaries of the parish, but much nearer 
to its western than to its eastern extremity, being four miles 
distant from the latter and only one mile from the former. 

The parish contains, besides the township of Bampton, the 
villages or hamlets of Weald, Haddon, Lew, Aston, Chimney, 
Brighthampton. Old Shifford, New 7 Shifford, Cote, and Rusliey. 
Of these hamlets. Lew is sufficiently extensive to become 
hereafter a parish by itself. Aston is a still more considerable 
village, and will, in conjunction with Cote, Brighthampton, 
Chimney* Old and New Shifford, form another separate pa¬ 
rish, so that Bampton will retain, of all its former depen¬ 
dencies, nothing but the hamlets of Rushey, Haddon and Weald, 
the last of which already joins it so as to shew no apparent 
separation. 

Of these villages, and hamlets, some are of the smallest 
description, being rather localities than places where several 
families reside. Thus Haddon contains only one farm-house and 
a few cottages of labourers. Chimney has two farm-houses 
only, and Rushey, situated on the river at almost the south-west¬ 
ern corner of the parish, contains only one house, inhabited by 
a single family, who have the charge of a lock established there 
to facilitate the navigation of the river. I may observe that 
the etymology of the name Rush-eye or “ the isle of rushes," is 
substantiated not only by the nature of the place, but by the 


HISTORY OF BAMPTON 


19 


similar forms, “ Sheppey” “or the isle of sheep,” “ Thorney.” 
or the “ isle of thorns,” “ Anglesey,” or the “ isle of the An¬ 
gles,” and others, which abound in almost all parts of Eng¬ 
land. But it is not necessary to go to a distance for examples 
of this ancient A nglo-Saxon mode of forming names of places; 
for I believe the hamlet of Chimney may possibly derive its 
name in a similar manner, as if written Chimn-eye, though there 
is another etymology of this name which will be hereafter men¬ 
tioned ; and Lake Reddy lane, which leads from the Buckland 
road towards the meadows, seems to retain traces of having 
originally taken its name from “ Reed-eye” or the tc isle of 

reeds.” It has been aheadv observed that the name of 

«/ 

Bampton signifies the “ Tree-town,” and, to conclude the list, 
it may be observed that Aston is written Estune i. e. East- 
town in Leofric’s Charter : Shifford is the “ sheep-fora,” Bright- 
hampton is composed of the three words, bright, ham, and 
town : Had don is a word formed out of the old termination 
-don before described, though the meaning of its first syllable 
had- seems more uncertain; but the etymology of Lew has 
hitherto baffled all my enquiries. 

§ 3 . OF THE CLIMATE, SOIL, AND POPULATION OF BAMPTON 

PARISH. 

The climate of Bampton is considered to be remarkably salu¬ 
brious, owing in a great measure, to the gravelly nature of the 
soil. The water also is excellent, except in situations where it 
is exposed to contamination from decayed vegetable-matter. 
Eish abounds, not only in the river, but in all the brooks; and 
the fine flavour which they possess, is thought to be a strong 
proof of the healthiness of the air. The soil of the northern 
part of Bampton parish, which lies upon the hill from Yelford 
to Brize-norton, including the whole of Lew, abounds in clay, 


20 


HISTORY OF BAMPTON. 


which renders the cultivation of the land more difficult and its 
profits less ample, hut the soil of that portion of the district 
which lies in the plain, is a continued stratum of gravel cover¬ 
ed by a thin surface of vegetable mould. It is tolerably fertile 
and suceptible of a high degree of cultivation, except where it 
is exposed to the annual inundation from the river. The total 
population of Bampton and its villages, according to the last 
census, was 2804, and the number of acres in the whole parish 
12330, of which about 3000 are under the plough. 

The following table shews the population and acreage of each 
hamlet or village separately : 


Bampton with Weald 

pop. 1694 acr. 4070. 

Aston and Cote . 

. . 727 . 

. 1870. 

Briglithampton . . 

. . 120 . 

. 410. 

Chimney. 

36 . 

. 620. 

Lew . 

. . 195 . 

. 1500. 

Shifford. 

52 . 

. 860. 

The grain mostly cultivated 

is wheat, and the 

system of agri- 


culture, though no doubt liable to be regulated, as elsewhere, 
by the custom of the country, is in a great measure dependent 
on the taste or discretion of the farmers. This latitude of prac¬ 
tise has however been introduced, only since the Inclosure-Act 
of 1812; for, when the principal part of the parish was laid out 
in common fields, it was necessary that a uniform system should 
be followed, to ensure an equal share of benefit to all who had 
a right of common. The course then pursued was the four- 
year or four-crop course, according to which they sowed wheat 
the first year, beans the second, and barley the third, after which 
the land was suffered to lie fallow the fourth year, to recover 
its strength for the ensuing crop of wheat. 

But many other kinds of grain grow with much freedom in all 
parts of the parish. Oats thrive well; barley is perhaps the 






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* 




















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* 

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town hall. 

















HISTORY OF BAMPTON. 


21 


least productive : peas seem to agree with the nature of the 
soil, and yet they are little cultivated : for they are never plen¬ 
tiful and generally sold at a high price. All kinds of roots and 
other vegetables are also grown in great abundance : potatoes 
here, as elsewhere, are the standard produce of the kitchen gar¬ 
den. Jerusalem artichokes are astonishingly productive: I 
have gathered nearly a peck of them from a single root. The 
usual kinds of fruit growm in gardens are found in Bampton. 
Apples grow in all parts of the parish, and from the produce of 
the orchard belonging to Cote house, Mr. Richard Townsend, 
the enterprising tenant of that farm, has often made fifteen or 
twenty hogs-heads of cider in one season. 

Apricots, walnuts and pears grow with great luxuriance: 
strawberries have been said to be ill-adapted to the soil, but this 
is certainly an error : for there are some gardens where the 
finest specimens of this fruit have been gathered, and in order 
to secure a good crop it seems to be only necessary to well 
moisten the beds in which they grow. 

§ 4. Of the town of bampton. 

The town itself of Bampton consists of three principal streets 
which meet on the market-place Here stands a large town- 
hall, the lower part of which is surrounded by open arches and 
forms a small but commodious market-house. It is to be wish¬ 
ed that this building could be more serviceable to the inhabi¬ 
tants in the use for which it was erected ; but the neighbour¬ 
ing markets of Witney, Baringdon, Burford, and even Oxford at 
the distance of so many miles, are too attractive to the farmers, 
and the market of Bampton, which is held on Wednesdays, sel¬ 
dom presents more than a few dealers in eggs, and butter, though 
large numbers of pigs are sold on that day. 

Of the three streets which meet on the m irket-place, High- 


22 


HISTORY OF BAMPTON. 


street seems to be the principal: on reaching the extremity of 
the town towards the South-east, it is separated into two 
branches, one of which leads’to Aston, Shifford, Brigbtliampton, 
&c. the other, passing over Fisher's bridge, and two miles fur¬ 
ther on, over Tadpole bridge, leads to Buckland, Stanford, 
and the Faringdon Road Station on the Great Western rail¬ 
way. From this station Bampton is about nine miles distant. 

Returning to the Town-Hall and taking a northerly direction, 
we find ourselves in Broad Street, so called from its great breadth: 
it is a dull street, liued on both sides with low houses, possess¬ 
ing little to attract the notice of the traveller. At the end of 
Broad Street, separating the town from the country are the 
grounds and large manor-house of Bampton Deanery, the pro¬ 
perty and residence of Frederick Whitaker Esquire, J. P. This 
estate is copy-hold, held in lease of the Dean and chapter of 
Exeter. 

To the west of Broad-Street are two or three lanes or back- 
streets leading to the Parish-church and burying-ground; the 
widest of these is generally called Church Street. The 
third principal thoroughfare is called Mill-Street, from the mill- 
stream over which it runs, and passing through Weald between 
an old house now occupied as a school, sometimes called 
the manor-house of Bampton, and the ruins of the old castle, 
now called Ham-court, divides itself, at Cow-leas corner, into 
two branches, one of which leads to Clanfield, and over Radcot 
bridge to Faringdon the other leads through the villages of 
Black-Boreton, Alvescott, Kencott, &c. to Lechlade and Fair- 
ford in Gloucestershire. 

We again return to the town, and proceed to describe the 
principal objects of interest which it contains. The first of these 
is its fine paaish-church. 


HISTORY OF BAMPTON. 


23 


§ 5. Of the parish-church OE BAMPTON. 

The church of Bampton is situated on the north-western 
side of the town, in the centre of a large church-yard, 
which, from being removed but of the immediate thorough¬ 
fare, and from the number of trees with which it abounds, 
lias a rural and interesting appearance. The church-yard is 
skirted on three sides by the street: on the north-side of it, is 
the ancient gate-way leading to the Deanery, next to which 
is the principal of the three vicarages, destined hereafter, 
when the portions are separated, to become the residence of 
the vicar of Bampton Proper. Adjoining to the gardens of 
the vicarage, on the eastern side, is a respectable house of 
considerable antiquity, and once in the occupation of a family 
named Wood, who, from circumstances hereafter to be men¬ 
tioned, have acquired a species of historic, or at least romantic, 
notoriety. The house is now the property of Thomas Den¬ 
ton, Esq., one of the lords of the manor of Bampton. To it 
succeed two rustic cottages; and a small side entrance gate¬ 
way, leading through the grounds of Bampton Deanery manor- 
house, completes the northern side of the square in which the 
pansh-church is situated. On the eastern side are two houses 
only, namely a low cottage and a large house which was for¬ 
merly one of the vicarages, but has lately been sold with the 
consent of the bishop to raise money for building another vica¬ 
rage-house hereafter, when the livings are separated, in the pa¬ 
rish of Aston. On the south-side of the church-yard are some 
ruins and the third vicarage, a roomy and comfortable residence, 
but with no pretensions to beauty of appearance or architec¬ 
tural ornament. It will hereafter be the residence of the vicar 
of Lew, until a more convenient situation for a new vicarage 
shall be obtained within the parish, of which he will have the 


24 


HISTORY OF BAIVfPTON. 


charge. The principal approach, leading to the South-porch of 
the church, near Church Street, is on this side, and the 
point of view, to a spectator standing near the gate of the old 
Grammar-school, is picturesque and pleasing. The western 
side of the Church-yard is occupied by the Deanery-house, lawn, 
and paddock, which are separated by a wall from the 
church-yard. 

The church itself is a handsome cruciform building, 
possessing many peculiarities in its architecture and orna¬ 
ments. It is composed of a nave with north and south isles, two 
transepts and a chancel. On the eastern side of the north 
transept is a small chapel, now used as an engine-house : the 
south transept has two chapels, one on each side of it: that 
on the eastern side is generally called Hoard's isle, because it 
was the burial-place of the Hoard family, formerly owners of Cote 
house. The western isle of the south transept is open to the 
nave of the church, and is occupied by pews. The service of 
the church is performed in the nave only : the transepts, from 
the size of the building and the clumsy galleries which sur¬ 
round the nave and separate it from the rest of the church, 
are at present of no other use than as passages or thoroughfares 
to the interior. 

Over the junction of the nave with the transepts, stands a 
massive tower rising about 65 feet from the ground : above 
which is placed a stately spire, about 150 feet high from the 
ground, a conspicuous object to all the surrounding country. At 
the base of the spire, and springing from the corners of the 
tower, are figures of the four evangelists, giving to the exterior of 
the church that peculiar appearance which belongs to many of the 
Oxfordshire churches. The chancel is of ample dimensions and 
contains on each side old oak seats, carved with foliage and 
figures, and moveable on hinges, like those of a cathedral- 


HISTORY OF BAMPTON. 


2a 


church or college-chapel; but there is no record of there having 
been a larger body or chapter of clergy than its three vicars; 
and it is believed that the appellation ‘ Deanery/ which is 
applied to the ancient house adjoining to the church-yard, forms 
no ground for supposing that there was ever a Dean of Hamp¬ 
ton : the name is probably derived from some temporary 
or occasional residence of one of the Deans of Exeter, or 
perhaps from the mere fact of its having been the property of 
those dignitaries. 

The living of Bampton is divided into three portions, held 
by three vicars who arc termed “ portionists.” It has, how¬ 
ever, rarely happened that three incumbents have been all resi¬ 
dent at once : for whilst one or other of the portions has been 
held by non-resident vicars, having other preferment elsewhere, 
it has even happened that two of the portions have, at least twice 
within the memory of man, been held by the same vicar; nor is 
it now probable that the parish will ever derive benefit from the 
presence of its three ecclesiastical superiors : the reforming 
spirit of the age has directed, through a recent ordinance of 
the ecclesiastical commission, that, when a new vicar shall be 
appointed, the three portions shall be separated, and each shall 
form a distinct parish. 

The architecture of the church is of various styles: the 
most ancient part of the building is to lie sought for at the in¬ 
tersection of the chancel and transepts : here is still remaining 
a low semi-circular ornamental arch with mouldings laid upon 
a square style of masonry, such as marks the Saxon and Nor¬ 
man period. The four pointed arches, on which the tower 
rests, are next in antiquity, and the wdiole of the tower above 
is certainly earlier than any part of the superstructure of 
either the nave, chancel, or transepts. The upper part of the 
tower is occupied by a peal of six fine-toned bells, besides a 

4 



26 


HISTORY OF BAMPTON. 


smaller specimen, which gives forth an attenuated sound, far 
inferior to the majestic notes that proceed from its more pon¬ 
derous neighbours. 

Besides these bells the tower contains a large clock, which, 
when it strikes, is heard to a considerable distance. There are 
also chimes, which play an ancient carol at the hours of one, 
five, and nine. The practice of ringing the curfew is also retain¬ 
ed at Bampton; at 8 in the evening a bell sends forth its soli¬ 
tary voice, but no fires or candles are now extinguished at the 
signal, which, like the letter of an obsolete law, still appears on 
the pages of the statute-book, though its spirit has depart- 
» ed ! At 4 in the morning, also, from Lady-day to Michaelmas, 
the Matins bell is placed on duty: so tenacious are we in 
some respects of the customs of our forefathers; we ring the 
curfew at evening to warn the country-man to rest, and in 
the morning by the matins-bell summon him from thence 
to his daily labours! 

On the floor immediately beneath the bells is a handsome 
belfry with double niches on every side worked in the thick¬ 
ness of the wall. A square trap-door appears in the centre 
of the floor, which was formerly open to the church beneath, 
but has within the last century been boarded up. The floor of the 
belfry, about 40 feet from the ground, rests on a sort of string¬ 
course of ornamental masonry, which is readily seen from the 
church below, and seems to lead to the inference that an orna¬ 
mental gallery was formerly in the place of the mean and 
rotten boarding which now forms the cieling of this portion of 
the church. 

The roof of the whole building is of the Gothic or Tudor 
period, consisting of flat timber-work covered with heavy lead. 
The isles are separated from the nave by handsome rows of 
massive pillars, over which are clerestory windows of the 



HISTORY OF BAMPTON. 27 

latest style of Gothic architecture. These were, no doubt, 
added in more modern times, when the ancient high pitched 
roof was removed, to replace small circular or quatrcfoil win¬ 
dows, which would certainly be more in harmony with the 
pointed character of all the existing features of the original 
building. 

Amongst the numerous monuments in this church are three 
brasses in the floor of the chancel, on one of which is en¬ 
graved the effigy of Robert Holcot, priest, and vicar of this pa¬ 
rish, who died on the 25th of October 1500. Ant. a Wood 
states, that he believes the learned Dominican, named Robert 
Holcot, of Northampton, who died in 1349, was not connected* 
with Robert Holcot, of Bampton; who, he thought, was one of 
the family of that name residing in the neighbourhood, at Buck- 
land in Berkshire. On another brass is an effigy of Plymmys- 
wood, of whom we shall again speak hereafter, in enumerating 
those who have successively been vicars of this church. The 
third effigy is of a lady, Frances Hoard, of whose family nume¬ 
rous memorials exist in this church, affording considerable 
materials for a biography of their highly respectable house. 

On the east side of the north transept, within the chapel be¬ 
fore alluded to, is a beautiful recumbent effigy, apparently of 
the period of king Henry the 4th, but it is unfortunately so 
mutilated, and wantonly disfigured, that it is impossible to ar¬ 
rive at any satisfactory conclusion as to the personage whom it 
is intended to commemorate. 

Another recumbent effigy, which was intended no doubt to 
repose within the church, is now placed in the church-yard, near¬ 
ly under the cast window : its mutilated state renders it diffi¬ 
cult to say whether it is the effigy of a man or of a woman. 

On the wall between this chapel and the chancel is a speci¬ 
men of enriched sculpture, let into the wall; it represents, with- 


28 


HISTORY OF BAMPTON. 


in florid Gothic recesses, Christ and the twelve apostles: the 
carving is however indifferently executed, and the piece is in¬ 
teresting only as affording an example of the style of the fif¬ 
teenth century. This and many other of the ornamental parts 
of the church were once richly covered with paint, which, for 
centuries perhaps, has been concealed from view by the all-enve- 
lopping white-wash, by which so many of our old parish church¬ 
es have been disfigured. This carving was probably intended 
originally to be a reredos to the higli-altar, or perhaps it may 
have been an appendage to one of the altar-tombs, of which 
piscinae and other vestiges are still to be seen in various parts 
of the church. 

In a manuscript volume, forming part of the Bawlinson 
Collection in the Bodleian library, and which will be often quot¬ 
ed in this work, I find the following account of arms and paint¬ 
ed glass, formerly found in Bampton church, but now, as far 
as I know, destroyed. 

On a stone on the ground in the body of the Church : Barry of 20, 
an Orle of Martletts, on an escutcheon a maunche impaling 3 coates 
per pale, viz : 

1. a fess petty between 3 martletts. 2. a Buck’s or Stagg’s head 
having between the homes a cross crosslett fitch, and in its mouth a 

barbed arrow-Boulstrode. This stone with the said three coats 

thereon were laid and putt for John Hastings, esq. who died the XIII 
of January, an. MDXLI. Upon the said monument also are these 
armes: 1. a fess petty between 3 martletts, as above, impaling Boul¬ 
strode,' as above. 2 Boulstrode alone. 

In the windows of the Church : 1. Chaworth. 2. Exeter college armes. 
3. Delamore quartering. 4. field...a chevron, or, between three castles 
argent, each having issuing thence a demilion rampant of the second, 
galfridcs de caio obiit MCCCCLVI. 5. argent, a chevron between 
three birds (choughs) sable, legged and becked or. Rad. Fretevill. 
Gules 3 lions passant, or, England. England with a File of five lables, 
each charged with three fleurs de lize. Gules, cross pattee, or (or ar¬ 
gent.) Gules, 3. cheveronells, or. Lord Dawbcny’s armies. These 
three coats were visible on an old tombstone, with a man thereon in 
armour cut in stone, and seeming very ancient. 



HISTORY OF BAMPTON 


20 


In Dr Plott's History of Oxfordshire are the arms of the 
Hinders, Hordes and Dcwcs, families much connected with the 
history of Bampton during the sixteenth, seventeenth and 
eighteenth centuries. 

On the ends of the old carved seats, at the entrance of the 
chancel, are some crests or other heraldic devices, but not 
earlier, perhaps, than the sixteenth century : among these the 
hunting-horn is conspicuous. 

At the back of the galleries, and nearly close to the roof of 
the isles of the church are some uncommonly fine corbel-heads, 
proving that the art of sculpture was as extensively studied by 
our forefathers as that of architecture. The cathedrals and 
parish-churches, which exist, both in England, and all parts of the 
continent, exhibit specimens, which for boldness of design and 
execution, equal many of the productions both of Greece and 
Home. 

The arms of the see of Exeter occur in the chancel and other 
parts of the building, and the Norman doorcase leading into 
the south transept, and the Gothic semi-porch and entrance 
at the west end of the nave, are specimens worthy of the 
notice of antiquaries. 

The other monuments, not here specified, are not remark¬ 
able for originality of design or architectural beauty. As 
a copy of all the epitaphs taken from the tombs both within 
and without the church will be found in another part of 
this volume, it is unnecessary here to repeat in brief what may 
there be seen in all its details. 

I conclude this account of Bampton church with the follow¬ 
ing remarks of Mr. Skelton, who has devoted several pages, in 
his valuable “ Antiquities of Oxfordshire,” to a description of 
this parish, its church and other antiquities. 

“The massive tower affords a good specimen of Norman 


HISTORY OF BAMPTON. 


30 

architecture, but the ornamental belfry clearly demonstrates, 
that the architect did not contemplate that this part of the 
tower should be hidden from the spectator, viewing it from the 
floor of the church. It is much to be lamented, that the 
internal architectural beauty of many of our finest towers has 
been destroyed by the mode of bell-ringing, which renders it 
necessary to have belfries nearer to the bells. 

The great antiquity of the church is clearly attested by 
considerable portions of Norman architecture observable in 
various parts of the structure. These remains are however so 
intermingled with architecture of subsequent ages, that in this 
building alone we have examples of almost every period, from 
the conquest to the reign of King George the Third. From 
the character of the. spire, and other parts of this building, it 
appears probable that it was erected about the same time as 
the neighbouring churches of Witney and Burford.” 

§ 6. Of the vicars and church-establishment of 

BAMPTON. 

The church of Bampton is open for divine service on 
Sundays at the hours of 11 and 3, and on Wednesdays and 
Fridays at 11. To these have of late been added services 
in the chancel, at 8 in the morning on ordinary days, and at 11 
and 4 on Saints-days. The Sunday services are on the whole 
well attended, but at the weekly service there is but a scanty 
congregation, owing, no doubt, to the laborious daily occupa¬ 
tions of the inhabitants. 

The duties of the Church are discharged by the three 
vicars or their curates, who formerly, when there were 
only the parish-church of Bampton and the chapel-of- 
ease at Shifford, were on duty each during four months 
of the year, but, this arrangement not being agreeable 



VICARAGE 



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HISTORY OF BAMPTON. 


31 


to one of the former vicars, it was determined in a court 
of law that the three incumbents should discharge the 
duties of the parish in turn, each every third week. Since 
the erection of two additional churches, at Lew and at 
Aston, the Sunday services have fallen sufficiently heavy 
on all the three vicars alike, or on those who as curates 
perform these duties for them. 

The revenues of the vicars of Bampton are considerable, and 
in consequence of circumstances which have happened from 
time to time, arise from various sources. The original source 
of revenue were tithes, which were paid by all the inhabitants 
of the town and the adjoining hamlets. In addition to these, 
a sum of £ 100 is paid yearly to the vicars by the parish 
of Clanfield. Similar payments, but much smaller in amount, 
are made by the parishes of Standlake and Yelford: the for¬ 
mer of these, under the name of "Pension-tithe,” pays 
£ 2. 2s. 6d., the latter pays twenty pence, a year, to the vicars 
of Bampton. In return for this payment, certain lands in both 
those parishes are exempt from the payment of tithes to their 
own clergymen, but I have not been able to discover the origin 
of the payments. 

In the year 1812 large tracts of common land were enclosed 
in this parish, and by an arrangement then made, three estates, 
lying in different parts of the parish, were set apart for the 
vicar in lieu of tithes ; so that at present the town of Bamp¬ 
ton and the hamlets of Weald and Lew are tithe-free. In ad¬ 
dition to these estates, and the money which comes in from 
Clanfield, Standlake and Yelford, the hamlets of Aston and 
Cote, which for tithe-purposes are assessed together, also 
Brighthampton, Shifford, and Chimney, which are separately 
assessed, pay certain sums of money yearly, according to the 
recent act for the commutation of tithes: and from all these 


32 


HISTORY OF HAMPTON. 


sources, the three portionists of the living of Hampton enjoy 
a revenue amounting to between fifteen hundred and two thou¬ 
sand a year.* 

The other officers, attached to the church establishment of 
Hampton, are a clerk, sexton, organist, and company of ringers. 
A bedel, also, although properly a civic functionary, is mostly 
seen on duty near the sacred edifice, under whose shadow, 
perhaps, from his advanced years, he already contemplates enjoy¬ 
ing his last rest. 

The custody of the parish-church of Bampton is in the 
hands of two church-wardens, one of whom is appointed by 
the vestry-meeting, the other by the three vicars. One of the 
gentlemen who now hold this office, has discharged its duties 
with credit and respectability during the long period of 
thirty years. 

The parish-clerk of Bampl on is appointed by the vicars ; his 
salary is £ 10 a year, besides which he receives certain fees, 
paid for burials and other services, according to a scale which 
may be seen on a board suspended in the Vestry-room : the 
sexton is elected by the parishioners in vestry assembled, and 
receives £5. 19. a year, besides fees. 

The organist receives £24 a year, being the interest, at 4 per 
cent, of £2703 lent, with other monies, to the Stoken-church 
Turnpike-trust: besides £2. 19s. the interest, after paying 
legacy-duty, &c., of £100 bequeathed by Miss Carr. 

The office of Organist is at present filled by Miss Whitaker, 
a lady possessing zeal and ability in the duties which she 
condescends to undertake, and a member of that highly re¬ 
spectable family resident at Hampton, whose urbanity gives 


* The tithe-apportionment of the above-mentioned villages is as follows : - As 
ton and Cote, £ 550. — Chimney, £ 107. 10s.— Old and New Shifford £197 

Brighthampton, about £ 120 . but the commutation for this village has no’t vet" beci 
effected. — 






HISTORY OF HAMPTON. 


33 


such attractions to the place in the eyes of all those who visit it, 
and especially of him who has this opportunity of acknow¬ 
ledging their friendship. 


§. 7. Order and succession of the vicars of Bampton. 


To form a complete list of the vicars of Hampton from the 
time of Leofrie, is a task which the absence of early records ren¬ 
ders totally impossible. It is difficult to sav what circumstance 
iirst. led to the threefold di\isinn of the vicarage, and I believe 


Hie instances of a similar arrangement are extremely few. Tl 


le 


institution-books of the diocese of Oxford, and probably of 
most dioceses, extend back only to A. D. 3 543, and there art- 
few notices of vicars of Bampton before that period. The ma¬ 
terials, from which T have formed this list of vicars, are princi¬ 
pally the following. 

1. The institution-books, preserved in the Registrar's office 
at Oxford. 

2. Tomb*stones and monuments still existing in the church. 

3. Wood's Athenec Oxonienses. 

4. Walker's Sufferings of the clergy, fol. London 1714 — a 
curious work, the second part of which contains a “ list of some 
of the loyal and episcopal clergy, as likewise of the heads of 
Houses, fellows, scholars, &c. in the two Universities, who 
were sequestrated, &c. in the late times of the great re¬ 
bellion." 

5. A 4to paper vol. preserved in the Bodleian among Brown 
Willis's MSS, entitled Miscellanea of abbats &c. Taxatio 1291 
com. Oxon. * 

6. Steele's collections for the county of Oxford, No. 46 
among Gough's MSS in the Bodleian Library. 


* I copy the following extract concerning Bampton, but leave the expounding of it to 
wiser heads than my own. 

“ Archidiaconatus Oxon. Decanatus de Witteney. Ecclesia de Bampton, deducta 
portione [LXXX Kn ] . XX marc. Portio Bectoris de Bampton in cadent.V 

Marc. [Kn].” 

K 

O 






HISTORY OF BAMPTON. 


U 

7. Grandison’s and Stafford’s Registers, in the Ca ihedral 
Library at Exeter. 

8. The Rawlinson MS. in the Bodleian library. 

A. D. 1337, April 8, Robert de Bukyngham, rector of Blis- 
ton in the diocese of Exeter exchanged with Robert Pod dyng 
vicar of Batnpton. [Register of Grandison, Bishop of Exeter, 

vol. III.] ; * 

A. D. 1401, Oct. 28, Thomas Plymmeswode, vicar of Hea- 

vitree, was allowed to exchange with Johu Wydelond vicar of 
Bampton [Bp. Stafford’s Register, vol. II, fol. 55.] See Plym- 
myswode’s epitaph on a brass in the chancel. 

A. D. 14 . . Sep. 23, died Thomas Kavi, A. M. vicar of 
Bampton. [Rawlinson MS, quoting from a brass now de¬ 
stroyed.] 

A. D. 1500, Robert Holcot vicar of Bampton died this year, 
on Oct. 25, as appears by his epitaph on a brass in the chancel. 

A. D. 1534, John Dotyn, B. M. vicar of Bampton. [Wood, 
v. I, p. 686.] 

In the Rawlinson MS. I find this notice: 

In that vicarage-house, which belonged to Mr. Thomas Cooke, (since 
to Dr. Phillips, who married his daughter and heir) I find some¬ 
where this written an. 1456, Johannes dotyn vicaiuus. 

Either this date is wrong, and should be 1556, or there was 
a previous John Dotyn vicar of Bampton. 

A. D. 1547, April 22. Edmund Crispin, was instituted to 
one of the vicarages of Bampton, vacant by the death of John 
Dyer the last incumbent. 

As a specimen of the form of institution, I give the 1 ollow- 
ing extract from the 1st Institution-book of the Diocese of 
Oxford, page 123. 

Vicesimo tertio die mensis Aprilis, anno Do- 
VIOARIA mini 1547, magister Edmundus Cryspin cle- 

DE ricus, ad vicariam perpetuam ecclcsise paro- 

BAMPTON. chialis de Bampton Oxoniensis diocesis per 

mortem naturalem Magistri Joliannis Dyer 


HISTORY OF BAMPTON. 


35 


ultimi incumbentis ibidem vacantem ad praesentationem decani et 
capituli ecclesiae cathedralis beati Petri Exoniensis patronorum ejusdtm 
admissus fuit, ac vicarius in eadem legitime institutus, et recepta ejus 
legitima obedientia scriptum erat domino archidiacono Oxon. pro 
iiuluctione ejusdem. 

A. D. 1518, March 7, John Dayle, by the resignation of 
Edmund Crispin, M. A. 

In the entry at page i 30 of the 2nd Institution-hook the 
dean and Chapter of Exeter are called veri et indnbitati dicta 
vicaritE patroni the true and undoubted patrons of the said 
church. 

A. D. 1549, Jan. 31, Thomas Yonge, B. C. L. by the resig¬ 
nation of Robert Allington. 

A. D. 1558, Eeb. 28, Henry Dotynge by the resignation of 
John Dotynge. 

Carved on the screen in Mr Cooke’s Ilall,—“1577, hen. dotyn vic- 
aiuus. He was M. A., some time fellow of Exeter College, and per¬ 
haps nephew to the former. Ascending into a chamber, was cut in 
stone, in 1661, this, as well as the above-mentioned,— “hen. dotyn, 
vicarius 1577.” 

On a garden-wall, in cap. [i. e. in capital letters] “ 1569 vicari. 
Henricus Dotyn successor Jo. Dotyn patrui sui iiunc murum 
suis upta [should be suo sumptu] perfecit”—Uawlinson M S. 

A. D. 1501, Sep. 5, William Levenson, by the death of Wal¬ 
ter Wright, D.C.L. The entry in the Institution-book (p. 211.) 
is as follows : 

Willelmus Leveson, clericus, ad vie. perp. eccl. par. de Bampton 
Oxon. dioc. per mortem naturalem Walteri Wright legurn doctoris, 
et incumb. ibid, jam vacantem, ad collationcm reverendissimi patris 
Matthaei Cantuariensis archiep. Londini admissus et institutus die 
quinto mensis Septembris A. D. 1561, et regni Elizabeths nunc re¬ 
gime quarto.die Sabbati, videlicet 19 die ejusdem men¬ 

sis, anno Domini praedicto, virtute mandati dicti Reverendissimi pat- 
tris in dicta ecclesia parohiali de Bampton cum suis juribus et per- 
tinentiis et in ult. inductus fuit, anno Regime Elizabeths 
praedicto. 

A. D. 1509, Feb. 24 [secundum computationem ecclesia 
Ang!ica?ice.] Thomas Fisher, by the death of Thomas 
Yonge. 

In the Inquisition-book [p. 249] the dean and chapter ate 
again styled veros et indubitatos (ut asserunt,) &c. 



HISTORY OF BAMPTON. 


36 

A. D. 1580 [about], John Howscn Vic. of Bam. about 1580. 
— John How sen, I). I). vie. of Brightwell, about 1601: consec. 
Bishop of Oxford 1618. [Steele, and Wood, v. I. p. 481.] — 
A. D. 1601, Aug. 10. 

[Extract from the parish Register of Black-Boreton]. “Mr John 
Howsen, one of the vicars of Bampton and Elizabeth hloyd of the 
same parish, were married in this parish church the tenth day of 
August 1001 by Mr. John King Archdeacon of Nottingham.” 

A. D. 1581, John Underhill, B. D. also vicar of Witney, 
and conscc. Bp. of Ox. Dec. 8, 1589. [Steele, and Wood, 
T, 609.] 

A. I). 1614, July 17, John Prideaux, D. D. by the death of 
Henry Waimesley. 

A. D. 1617, July 9, Antony Blincowe, Lcgum Doctor, by 
the death of Mr. Wormeseye. 

A. D. 1620. “Edw. Wilson, B. D. about 1620. Balliofcrgus, 
p. 125.” [Gough MSS, No. 46.] 

In RymcFs Focdera, "Vol. VIII, pt. 3, page 34, is a dispensa¬ 
tion, dated Sep. 20, 1628, empowering “ Edwardus Wilson, 
S. T. B.,” to hold the vicarage of Bampton together with the 
rectory of Stonefield. 

A. D. 1634, July 5, William Hodges, M. A., by the resig¬ 
nation of John Prideaux. 

W. Hodges compounds for first fruits in the_ 10th year of 
Charles I, 1634. [B. Willis]. 

William Hodges was of Exeter College and in 1661 became 
D. D.; on May 30,1645, was admitted to the dignity of Arch¬ 
deacon of Northampton by Dr Prideaux, Bishop of that see 
whose daughter he married some time before. There seems to be 
some ground for believing that he lost the vicarage of Bampton 
on the ordinance concerning pluralities. He was also rector of 
Hippie in Worcestershire and kept that living during the whole 
period of the commonwealth, lie died in 1676 — [Walker in 
his account of the Worcestershire clergy]. 


HISTORY OF BAMPTON. 


37 

Steele, quoting from Wood, II, p. 824, and Rennet's Regist. 
and Cliron. says W. Hodges died Aug. 1675 and was buried in 
the church of Bampton. 

A. 11.1648, John Osborne, first portion—RousClopton, third 
portion, compound for first-fruits this year. [B. Willis]. 

Rous Clopton, about 1640 [Walker, Pt. II, p. 224]. 

John Osborne M. A., about 1632, ejected 1662. [Wood, II, 
p. 233.] 

A. D. 1658, Rob. Sawer, 3rd portion, and Samuel Birch, 2nd 
portion, compounded for first fruits [B. Willis]. 

Of the second of these gentleman I find the following notice 
in the Nonconformist's memorial by Dr Calamy, edit. Palmer, 
1775, vol. II, p. 302, 

The Rev. Samuel Birch, M. A., of Corpus Christi Coll. Oxon, one 
of the 3 vicars of Bampton, was silenced by the act of uniformity in 
1062, although he had formerly not only (to use his own words) utter¬ 
ly refused all compliance with the wickedness of the army under Crom¬ 
well, (opposing their most unrighteous and horrid practices) about 
King and parliament, but had given what assistance he could to the 
King, when he came to Scotland. He was ejected Aug. 24, 1662, [B. 
Willis’s MS. says July 30] having 7 children. He first removed to Shil¬ 
ton, but was there much molested. In 1666 he was placed hy the gentle¬ 
men of the county in a mansion-house at Coate in that neighbourhood 

belonging to-Hoard Esq. and they sent their sons to him for 

education, a service for which he was peculiarly qualified, and he re¬ 
mained there till the time of his death, having his house continually 
full of young nobility and gentry from many parts of the nation. Four¬ 
teen of those that had been his scholars, were in one session of parlia¬ 
ment, in the reign of Queen Anne ; and some of the chief of her min¬ 
isters of state were of that number. He died Jan. 22, 1668, and was 
buried at Shilton. 

A. D. 1660, Thomas Cook, B. D. ob. Ap. 6, 1669. He was 
also archdeacon of Salop. (Steele; and Wood, I, 813.] 

A. D. 1662, Dec. 23. Joseph Maynard. 

A. D. 1669, Nov. 15, William Barley, M. A., by the resig¬ 
nation of Dr. Edward Cotton. 

A. D. 1669, Stephen Phillips, M. A. afterwards D. D., by the 
death of Tho. Cook. S. Phillips was also archdeacon of Salop, 
and died 1684 [Steele; and Wood, IT, p. 878.] 



38 


HISTORY OF BAMPTON. 


Dr. Stephen Phillips, vicar of Bampton and archdeacon of 
Salop, is less known to fame than his son John, the poet, who 
was horn here in lf>7G. This young man received his grammatical 
education in Westminster School, from whence he was elected to 
Christ’s Church, Oxford. He was designed for the study of physic, to 
which he was naturally led by his love of botany, and the weakness 
of his constitution; for he seldom knew what it was to enjoy a day’s 
health. He was so extremely fond of the Greek and Latin Classics, 
that he entered into their spirit and way of writing in a manner supe¬ 
rior to all who had gone before him. The natural sweetness of his 
temper and the easy affability, wherewith he treated every person, en¬ 
deared him to all the gentlemen in the college. 

Dr. Aldrich, at that time dean of Christ’s Church, was much 
addicted to smoking tobacco; and one morning, Mr. Phillips and 
Mr. Smith his chum laid a wager, that, if one of them would go at 
that moment and call upon the dean, he would find him smoking. 
Mr. Phillips was the person who took the affirmative side of the ques¬ 
tion, and when he came to the dean’s apartment, the doctor asked him 
his business? To whom he answered in that simple manner, to which 
he was accustomed from his infancy, telling the nature of the wager, 
and that he was come there to have it decided. “Mr. Phillips,” said 
the dean, with the greatest good-nature, “you have lost your wager, 
for I am not smoking, hut filling my pipe.” 

His poem, entitled “ the Splendid Shilling ” raised his fame to such 
a degree, that lord Harcourt employed him to write a poem on the 
battle of Blenheim, in opposition to that composed by Mr. Addison, 
on the same subject. This poem was held in much estimation, 
hut his best poem is always considered to be that which he com¬ 
posed on Cyder, and is an excellent imitation of the style of Virgil’s 
Georgies. 

Phillips intended to write a poem on the Last Judgement, as we 
are told by Mr. Smith. His continued ill state of health at last 
brought on a consumption, which put a period to his life at Hereford, 
on the 15tli of February 1708, in the 32nd year of his age. He was 
buried in the cathedral of that city, hut a monument has been since 
erected to his memory in Westminster abbey. * 

A. D. 1676, Jail. 5, Thomas Snell, S. T. B. by the death of 
Thomas Hodges. 

A. D. 1681, In the Inquisition held this year at Bampton ' 
Arthur Bury, D. I). appears as vicar of Bampton, with Hr. 
Phillips and the Rev. Th. Snell. See appendix, No. xix. 

A. D. 1684, Jan, 16 [stylo Anglico,] Thomas Snell, by the 
death of Stephen Phillips, S. T. P. 

A. H. 1707, March 2, John Edmonds, M. A. by the resig¬ 
nation of Arthur Bury, S. T. P. 

•New British Traveller,published under the inspection of Geo. Aug. Walpole esq. fol. 
London, 1784. 




HISTORY OF BAMPTON. 


39 


A. D. 1714, Feb. 11, Thomas Snell, by the resignation of 
Thomas Snell senior. 

A. D. 1718. April 17, William Stephens, M. A., by the 
death of Thomas Snell senior. 

A. D. 1724, Aug. 18, John Edmonds, M. A. per cessionem 
Will. Stephens. 

Steele has “John Edmonds 1725. William Stevens 1728. 
Snell 1731.” which is quite at variance with the Institution- 
book. Steele has “ William Reynolds M. A. 1742.” 

A. D. 1743, Aug. 7, William Reynolds, M. A. to the por¬ 
tion formerly in the possession of Stephen Phillips, but lately 
of Thomas Snell, vacant by the death of John Edmonds. 

A. D. 1750, Feb. 28, Elias Taunton, M. A. to the portion 
formerly in possession of Stephen Phillips, void by the death of 
William Reynolds, who held two portions [See Reynolds's 
epitaph.] 

A. D. 1750, March 2, John Land, M. A. by the death of 
William Reynolds. 

A. D. 1757, July 23, Joseph Amphlett, D. C. L. by the 
death of John Land. 

A. D. 1758, March 25, Charles Hawtrey the younger, 
M. A., formerly in possession of Thomas Hodges, vacant by 
the death of Thomas Snell. 

A. D. 17G6, May 7, Henry Barton, I). D. to the portion 
formerly in possession of Stephen Phillips and vacant by thedeath 
of Elias Taunton. 

A. D. 1782, S. Johnson. See the “ Vestry-books 

A. D. 1794, Dec. 23, The Rev....Marshall vicar of Bampton, 
as appears by the last feoffment deed of the Shilton estate. 
[See account of the Shilton charity lands, hereafter.] 

A. D. 1796, Geo. Richards, afterward D. D., by the death of 

Ch. Hawtrey, who held two portions. [See Hawt.rey's epitaph.] 

(5 


40 


HISTORY OF BAMPTON 


A. D. 1799, Thomas Burrow. 

A. D. 1819, Hugh Owen M. A. void by the cession of 
Hugh Owen the last vicar. 

A. D. 1824, Oct. 25, Cranley Lancelot Kerby by the cession 
of George Richards. 

A. I). 1828, Feb. 16, John Robinson Winstanley, by the 
death of Hugh Owen. 

A. D. 1887, May 6, Daercs Adams, by the death of Thomas 
Burrow. 

A. I). 1844, June 21, Ralph Barnes, M. A. by the death of 
John Robinson Winstanley. 

This list contains all the names of vicars, that I have been 
able to collect, and is, I fear, very inaccurate in many particu¬ 
lars, from the deficiency of data, and the numerous palpable 
errors with which the Oxford Institution books abound. 

§ 8. PARISH-REGISTERS NO LONGER IN USE, KEPT IN THE SMALL 

IRON CHEST. 

The registers of the parish of Bampton which are no longer 
in use are contained in a small iron-chest, deposited in the 
vestry-room of the parish-church. They consist of 12 volumes 
in folio and 2 in quarto. These last, together with one of the 
folios, contain the entries of baptisms, weddings, and burials 
pertaining to the church of Shifford, and have been kept of 
late years, with the rest of the Registers, in the mother-church 
of Bampton. The whole series are ticketed with labels, num- - 
bered from 1 to 14, for the convenience of reference. We will 
briefly describe them in order. 

No. 1. A folio volume, of parchment, and in rather a dila¬ 
pidated condition. Each page is divided in double columns, 
and the ink is much faded, from age, in several parts of the 
volume, particularly at the beginning. The first entries refer 


HISTORY OF HAMPTON. 


il 


to Christenings, and extend from October, A. I). 1538 to 
August, 1693. These are partly in Latin and partly in English, 
thus, 

“ 1669, Oct. 9, Mary Rickets, fia [filia] Daniel. 

Oct. 28, Anthony et Thomas Wenwan, filii Anthony.” 
then two leaves of “ burrials,” from A. D. 1692 to 1694, but not 
in order : after which are 5 leaves of “ Marriages ” from Oct. 
A. D. 1538, to Dec. 24, A. D. 1691. Then occur several 
leaves of burials and Christenings from 1685 to 1691, entered 
confusedly; at the end of which is the following sentence : 

Homo quilibet est pars communitatis. Every particular person 
is part of the whole state: this is the true reason, why the king takes 
so precise an account of the death even of the basest subject, because 
himselfe and the whole kingdome had interest in him. 

As the hand-writing, in which this morsel of political wisdom 
has been handed down to posterity, is of a more recent date than 
the latest of the entries contained in the volume, it must have 
been written since James the Second was expelled by his son- 
in-law William the Third; when, consequently, the writer had 
witnessed the example of family-love which the Dutch monarc!l 
and his hard-hearted wife set to their subjects in their behavi¬ 
our towards their dethroned parent. 

The rest of the volume is occupied with “ I3urialls,” from 
Oct. A. D. 1538, to May 17, 1685, in which the Latin words 
* vidua/ f filius/ and f filia/ occur frequently, as before. 

On the last page of the book is the following curious 
note: 

Whereas the Right Worpll: Sr: Thcmas Herd Kght. and his wor¬ 
thy lady, hauing upon vndeniable evidence, made it apeare that they 
are not in bodily health, and therefore According to the lawe in that 
case provided have obtained a Licence to eat flesh during the time of 
their Indisposition of bodies ; But since the Date of Eight dayes allowed 
by the statute is expired, and they are still in a Sickly Condition. 
Vpon their request the sayd licence is longer indulged them to dress 
Flesh and accordingly Registered. 

March 18th: 1GG0. 


Will. Standard 


42 


HISTORY OF BAMPTON. 


The date of Gualter Castles licence, Clark and Sexto being expired, 
was also prorogued. 

But the good knight seems not long to have enjoyed the in¬ 
dulgence which the Church allowed him, for in the list of buri¬ 
als for the year 1662, we find the following entry : “ Jan. 3]. 
Sir Thomas Hord,” about one year and nine months after the 
date of the licence above-mentioned ! 

No. 2. a folio, also of parchment, and written for the most 
part in double columns. On the first leaf is the following 
note: 

Dec. 3, 1750. By appointment of ye Revd. Mr. Wm. Reynolds and 
ye Revd. Mr. Tho: Snell, Edward Skinner was constituted Clerk of 
the parish of Bampton in ye room of Wm. Andrews deceased. 

The first part of the book contains Christenings from Jan. 3, 
A. D. 1685 to Feb. 25, A. D. 17 62, in 30 folios. Then follow Mar¬ 
riages from April 26, A. D. 1685 to Oct. 8,1753, (occupyingfo¬ 
lios 1—7)—Baptisms from March 3, A. D. 1762, to Feb. 21, 
A. D. 1779, (folios 8 to 18) — Burials from Jan. 6, A. D. 
1685, to July 15, 1780 (fol. 1 to 31). On the last leaf is 
the following note: 

August 19, 1767. John Wright of Aston having been duly elected 
to succeed Thomas Fox lately deceased, as Parish Clerk, was appro¬ 
ved of by us. J. Amphlett. Vicar. C. Hawtrey^ Vicar. 

Wm. Cecil, Churchwarden. 

In this register—about the middle of the volume,—the name 
of the officiating Clergyman begius to be annexed to the en¬ 
tries. The first occurs in the Burials, “ 1758, Oct. 13, Wm. 
Wiggins. C. H. [for Charles Hawtrey].” The other names 
that occur are J. Amphlett (L759), C. Poyntz, Cl. 
(1759). 

No. 3. A folio volume, of vellum, written across the whole 
page and begun at both ends. At the beginning are Burials 
from May 18, 1782, to Dec. 24, 1812. 

At the end arc Baptisms from 1779 to 1812. 


HISTORY OF BAMPTON. 


43 


No. 4. Folio of paper in two parts, the lirst of which con¬ 
tains, throughout, printed forms for the entry of marriages, and 
is entitled A Register-book for marriages &c. printed for 
Joseph Fox, &c. M. DCC. LIY. The entries extend from 
1754 to 1783. 

Between the first and second parts are several entries of 
“ Bannes of marriage,” wholly in Manuscript, from 1790 to 
1795. 

Part 2 is entitled “A Register-Book for the publication 
of Bannes of Marriage &c. MDCCLIV,” and contains entries 
from 1754 to 1789. 

No 5. folio—paper—wholly in manuscript—not in columns 
—each leaf has six three-penny stamps impressed on the outer 
margin, and each entry is made opposite to one of the stamps. 
The volume contains Baptisms from Oct. 5, 1783 to Nov. 19, 
1786—Burials from Oct. 17, 1783 (at page 39) to Dec. 22, 
1786—and Marriages from Oct. 6, 1783 to Nov. 16, 1786. 

No 5.—folio—paper—stamped as No 5, contains : 

Baptisms from Dec. 27, 1786, to May 29, 1791—Burials 
from Jan. 13, 1787, to Dec. 20, 1791—and Marriages from 
Jan. 31, 1787 to Oct. 16, 1791—These entries are much con¬ 
fused, as several instances occur of Baptisms and Burials being 
entered in the same page. 

No 7. a paper pamphlet containing Burials from July 26, 
1791 to July 23, 1795. 

At the beginning of the book is the following note : “ This 
register for burials bought by J. Shingleton, Oct. 8,1791, price 
£1. 4. 0.” and yet the volume contains only four leaves, each 
of which has 20 three-penny stamps impressed upon it! 

No 8. paper—folio “ Register of Baptisms,” printed forms 
throughout—extending from Jan. 13, 1813 to Dec. 12, 1837. 
At the beginning of the \ olumc is the Marriage Act, Lllnd 


0 


HISTORY OF HAMPTON. 


of George III, elm]), cxlvi, and on the first leaf of the 
book is the following note in MS. 

Memorandum —The origin of the name of mount-owen was as 
follows : Some persons were passing by, when the cottage at the top 
of the Hill was in building; among whom was an eccentric old shoe¬ 
maker named John Neal, and he was asked to give it a title. He said 
it must be called Mount Owen, the Rev. Hugh Owen being vicar of one 
of the portions of Hampton at that time. 

No. 9. “The Register-book for births, Christenings, &c. 
conformable to an Act of the 23rd of Geo : III, &c.—stamped 
on the edges, as before, contains —Baptisms from June 
19, 1791 to Aug. 7, 1795,—then—Marriages from Dec. 5, 
1791 to Nov. 19, 1810. In the beginning of the book 
is the note: “This book bought by J. Shingleton, June 12, 
1791. price £5. 0. 0." 

No. 10. “Register-book for marriages &c. contains entries 
from Jan. 14, 1811 to Dec. 14, 1812, which occupy only 
four or five leaves, the rest of the volume being blank 
forms. 

No. 11. “Register of marriages &c. from Jan. 18,1813 
to June 20, 1837. The last half of the volume is blank. 

No. 12. “ Register of marriages in the Chapelry of Shifford 
&c. from April 22, 1813, to Oct. 27, 1835; occupying only 
seven or eight leaves : the rest of the volume is blank. 

No. 13. A quarto volume, of parchment, containing at the 
beginning Baptisms in Shifford church from Oct. 23, 1783 to 
Dec. 27, 1812. At the end of the volume are Burials from 
Oct. 23, 1783, to Dec. 23, 1811, with the following note an¬ 
nexed. 

Jan. 1, 1811. The register of the burials having been ^regularly 
kept during the operation of the tax on bonds, and many of the names 
having been obliterated by the damp, as many as were legible, were 
collected together, and entered into this book. We, whose names arc 
undersigned, have carefully collated the above list with the old book, 
and found it a faithful copy. G. Richards, vicar, Edw. Lindsey, John 
Townsend, 'Thomas Bartlett. 

The greater part of the volume is blank. 


HISTORY OF BAMPTON. 


ir> 

No. 14. A paper volume in quarto, containing, at the begin¬ 
ning, Baptisms, Burials, and Marriages from 1783 to 1787, 
mixed together in great confusion : in the latter part of the vol¬ 
ume, beginning at the end, wi th the book inverted, are banns 
of marriage from 1785 to 1811. 

The registers, which belong to a later period than the forego¬ 
ing, are kept by the clerk with the cushions and other furniture 
of the church in a large desl chest. 

§ 9. Of THE VESTRY-BOOKS. 

The Vestry-books of the parish, which are no longer in use, 
are kept in a large iron chest, together with deeds concerning 
the public charities and other matters, of which we shall speak 
more fully hereafter. The last vestry-book, still in use, is 
kept in the deal chest with the registers and church- 
cushions. 

The following account of these books and extracts from their 
contents may perhaps be amusing to some of my readers who 
take interest in parochial matters. 

No. 1. contains minutes of select vestries from Jan. 28, 1822, 
to Feb. 27, 1828, concerning paupers, loans made to ditto, 
and promise to repay, &c. 

2. Accounts of paupers. 

3. Overseers* book of Bampton and Weald, bought 
Ap. 29, 1718, contains entries from May, 11, 1718, to 
1734. 

On the back of the first leaf is the following memo- 
randum. 

April 3rd, 1711). It was agreed by us with John Carter that in consi¬ 
deration of clearing the church from sparrows and pigeons, he shall re¬ 
ceive from the churchwarden ten shillings at present, and five shillings 
hereafter yearly, to be paid on Easter Tuesday : Provided that, if 
at any time hereafter there be just complaint of his neglect to des- 


40 


HISTORY OF BAMPTON. 


troy them, he shall he content to receive nothing of this yearly 
stipend. 

Tho. Snell, Will. Stephens Vicars— 
Jo. Sandelands, Ralph Fowler, Tho. Hamersley, John Carter. 

4. Accounts of Charity-lands from 1786 to 1821. 

On the first leaf is the following : 

The Charity lands lett for three years, entered on Lady-day 1787. 

The Moor-close and Lake Reddy close to Mr Shingleton at £12 
per ann. 

The close (lately occupiedjier Mr Hawtrey) to B. Green at £10. 

The upper close to R. Clarke at £9. 10. 0. 

The estate at Appleton at £20. 

The three years expired Ap. 5th, 1790, goes on at tho Old Rent. 
April 29th 1790. 

At the end of the book (inverted) is the following: 

1802, July 23. At a meeting of the Trustees of the Charity-lands, 
holden in the vestry-room of the Parish of Bampton, it was 
resolved; 

1. That Mr. Shingleton shall be appointed to receive the rent of 
the Charities. 

2. That Mr Whitaker and Mr. Shingleton be requested to let 
the Shilton estate upon the best terms, according to their dis¬ 
cretion. 

3. That this meeting be adjourned to Wednesday the 13tli of October 

next.-G. Richards Vicar, T. Burrow vicar, Edw. Whitaker, 

Joseph Andrews, Joseph Walker, B. Green, John Fludger Salisbury, 
Joseph Shingleton. 

1802, Oct. 13. At a meeting of the Trustees of the Charity-lands 
holden in the Vestry-room of the parish of Bampton, present the Rev. 
Mr Richards, the Rev. Mr Burrow, Mr Andrews senior, Mr Salisbury, 
Joseph Shingleton, it was resolved that Joseph Shingleton should apply 
immediately to the present tenants to pay their rents with no abate¬ 
ment, and in case of non-payment, should put it into the hands of Mr. 
Macey. 

That this meeting be adjourned to Wednesday the 10 of Nov. next. 
G. Richards vicar, T. Burrow, vicar, J. Andrews, senior, John Flud¬ 
ger Salisbury. 

5. Overseers' accounts from 1797 to 1806. 

6. Do. from 1769 to 1796. 

7. Do. from 1734 to 1744. In this book Yelford appears as 
part of the parish liable to assessment for poor-rates. 

8. Do. from 1735 to 1792. 



HISTORY OF BAMPTON. 


47 


Jan. 27, 1733. At a vestry this day Held, and application being made 
to the said vestry by John Reynolds, of Hagbourn in the comity of 
Berks, blacksmith, for payment of the sum of thirty-four pounds due to 
him for making a new clock and chimes in the parish church of Bamp- 
ton, he having performed his said work according to his agreement, 
aad to the satisfaction of this vestry, therefore it is ordered by this ves¬ 
try, that the church-wardens of this parish for the time being do forth¬ 
with pay unto the said John Reynolds the said sum of £34, according 
to agreement of this vestry for that purpose, except 40 shillings, which 
is to he left as a caution till the clock is further proved. John Dewe— 
Richard Coxeter—Richard Sandelands—John Johnson—John Pawling 
—Richard Hoskins—William Pryor. 

Oct. 3, 1741. At a vestry this day here held it was unanimously agre¬ 
ed to allow the following sums to the ringers for ringing on the following 
days: viz:' on the king’s birth-day 10s., on the coronation day 10s., 
on gunpowder treason 15s., on the 29th day of May 10 s, and it was fur¬ 
ther ordered that the church-wardens should give the said money to the 
ringers to dispose of as they shall think proper. And there we re pre¬ 
sent—J. Dewe—J. Nabbs—W. Lisset—Hen. Church—ltic. Fowler — 
Rich. Malan—D. Watts—E. Seary—J. Pawlin—E. Aweberry — Sam. 
Johnson—Jos. Hoskins—Fra. Sims. 

Sept, the 29tli, 1742. By virtue of a faculty empowering the ministers 
and church-wardens, bearing date 1725, to dispose ot the front-seats in 
the gallery in the north isle, be it observed, that the right honorable 
Lord Coventry hath given 10 shillings to the church-wardens for the 
use of the parish, for a third seat from Mr. Coxeter’s gallery in the front 
above mentioned. Witness hereto Tho. Snell, vicar—David Carpen¬ 
ter, churchwarden. 

Agreeable to the circumstances above, Thomas Jeeves of Aston, pur¬ 
chased of the churchwarden of the same, one seat next to the door of 

the....wing,....price.,to be annexed to the house in Lew, late the 

property of Wm. Jeeves. 

Also, Thomas Townsend, of Aston, purchased the second scat from 
the door, of the churchwarden thereof upon the same terms as above, to 
he annexed to his dwelling-house. Thomas Snell, vicar — Thomas 
Bartlett, Churchwarden. 

Whereas five seats or places are already purchased in the front gal¬ 
lery in the north isle ; there remains but one more to be disposed of, now 
left to the choice of Edward Collingwood or his landlord, bearing date 
as above. 

Mr Middleton, one of the churchwardens of this parish having had no¬ 
tice to produce the key of the chest in the vestry, in order to inspect the 
deeds and writings belonging to the free school, and not attending or pro¬ 
ducing the same ; we, whose names are hereunto subscribed, in vestry 
assembled do hereby order and require the said Mr. Middleton to pro¬ 
duce the key or keys of the said chest, in his custody, next Sunday af¬ 
ter Evening Service. Witness our hands this 15th day of Sept. 17«>4 
—Tho. Snell—E. Taunton—Gas. Frederick— War.Lisset—Jas Elly 

. John Minchin—Peter Hill—John ( ollingwood—Tho. Fcx—Joseph 

Rogers. 


7 



48 


HISTORY OF BAMPTON. 


22d Sep. 1754. Ordered by the parishioners now present, that Mr. 
Gascoigne Frederic have liberty, within the space of one month from 
this time, to inspect the deeds and writings in the parish chest at all 
seasonable times, in the presence of the churchwardens, or any two of 
them, and such other of the parishioners as shall think fit to attend. 
— Tuo. Snell —John Land—E. Taunton—J. Nabbs—J. Dewe— 
Rich. Sandelands. 

March 7, 1756. It is this day agreed by vestry to take a warrant 
and take Wm. Ellicksanders to justice for going from his family. Mr. 
Andrew have threatened the preasent Church-wardens with a sute for 
opening the head of Wm. Carter killed with a waggon ; and the prea- 
sant inhabitants have agreed to stand the action against the same. 
Tho. Snell,—& c. 

Sep. 28, 1760. It is this day agreed, on account of the number of 
mad dogs lately appearing in this parish, and of the numbers that are 
suspected to have been bit, that every person that shall kill his dog 
and produce it dead before the overseer of the poor, shall receive of the 
said overseer for the same one shilling; and that a person be likewise 
appointed at the parish expense to shoot or destroy all such dogs as 
shall he found at large, after notice given to tie them up, for the space 
of six weeks, and that the parish shall indemnify such persons, employ¬ 
ed as above, for doing the same, and that moreover the person so em¬ 
ployed shall have one shilling for every dog that he shall shoot or 
destroy. E. Taunton—C. Hawtrey—J. Amphlett—li. Sandelands— 
Hen. Church—William Miller—John Carpenter—Peter Hill—Joseph 
Andrews. 

Jan. 1), 1762. Ordered that no bread be given to any person who 
does not attend divine service. 

Aug. 21, 1763. It is agreed at a vestry this day that Mr. Stevens, 
attorney at law, be desired to draw up a complaint, to be laid before 
the bishop, against the Key. Mr. Charles Hawtrey for refusing 
to attend the corpses of this parish into the church, and read the service 
as by the rubric is appointed : and it is agreed likewise, that all ex¬ 
penses attending the same be discharged by the churchwardens. Tuo. 
Middleton —Rob. Yeatman—and thirty two other names. 

Oct. 23, 1768. Public notice having been given in the church for 
this purpose, it is agreed, resolved and ordered that a workhouse, capa¬ 
ble of employing and lodging sixty persons or more, with proper out¬ 
buildings and conveniencies, be forthwith erected and built in Rose¬ 
mary lane for the reception of the poor of Bampton and Weald, and 
the trustees of Mrs. Mary Dewe’s charity having agreed to pay the ex¬ 
penses of the workmanship of such erections and building, and the 
occupiers of lands in Bampton and Weald having agreed to perform 
and do the carriage of all necessary materials, it is further agreed, 
resolved and ordered, that such timber, as will he necessary for 
such erections and buildings, now standing in the Poor’s closes in 
Lew, Bampton and Weald, be forthwith felled and cut down for that 
purpose, and the residue of the expense of tho other materials, and of 


HISTORY OF BAMPTON. 


49- 


completing the said buildings,and of furnishing the same, he raised 
by subscription, to which the lords of the manors are requested to 
contribute, and that such part thereof, as shall not he so raised, be 
paid out of the poor’s rates of Bampton and Weald.—J. Amimilett, 
vicar—&c. 

N. B. Many other notices occur further on in the volume 
concerning the building, leasing, and management of the work¬ 
house. 

Jan. 1, 1708. In regard to the contagious feavers, which now rages in 
this parish, we, whose names are hereunto subscribed, do think it neces¬ 
sary, and hereby agree, that the School-house, being now vacant, shall 
be forthwith taken to put such persons in that are sick, and that proper 
care be taken of them, and that three or four pairs of blankets be bought 
for the use of the sick, and that Eliz. Hill, or, if she refuses, another 
proper person be appointed to nurse and take care of them. Gas. 
Frederic, -&c. 

April 15,1770. Ordered that the churchwardens do deliver to Mr 
Frederick the several deeds and writings in the church-chest, in order 
that the same be sorted, and that the several charities belonging to the 
parish may be better known and carried into execution — Edw. 
Church — &c. 

Sept. 8, 1771. Ordered that new feoffments be made of the 
several charity-lands belonging to this parish, by the heirs of the 
surviving feoTees or trustees, to new trustees oi feoffees, upon 
trust, for the several purposes, for which the said lands are limi¬ 
ted, conveyed or appropriated, the former feoffees or trustees 
being dead. 

Ordered that notice be given r to the several tenants or occupiers 
of the charity-lands, belonging to this parish, by the churchwardens 
and overseers thereof to quit the several lands in their possession 
at Lady-day next, and that the said lands be let by auction on 
public notice to be previously given in the church for that purpose. 

Ordered that the churchwardens and overseers do deliver into the 
vestry lists of the several persons, to whom the bread and charity- 
money, given to he distributed among the poor of the parish, shall he 
given, in order that the same may be approved of by the vestry before 
the same be distributed. 

Ordered that the King’s Bench and Marshalsea money shall not, for 
the future, be paid out of the rents of the church-land. Gas. Frede¬ 
rick -&c. 

Oct. 6, 1771. Under this date are lists of trustees chosen 

to be enfeoffed of the following charity-lands. 

The 2 Moor-closes (now in one) and Lake Reddy. 

Brookfast furlong close and Moor-closes. 

The Appleton estate. 

I’ll e School-closes. 




50 


HISTORY OF BAMPTON. 


Close-land and commons at Lew, and the Weald closes and com¬ 
mons. 

April 26, 1772. Ordered unanimously that the churchwardens and 
overseers of Bampton and Weald do enter into articles with Mr. Edw. 
Herring, late of Witney, for the maintaining the poor of Bampton and 
Weald for three years from the 11th day of May next, at the yearly 
sum of £ 170, payable according to the draft of articles and under cer¬ 
tain rules and orders, which have been prepared for that purpose and 
the terms and condition mentioned in the said articles. Gas. Fre¬ 
derick -&c. 

Oct. 18, 1772. Notice having been given in the church on Sunday 
last for the churchwardens since the year 1768 to attend this day, and 
deliver in and pass their accounts, which they have neglected to 
do, Ordered that, unless they do deliver in and pass their accounts on 
Sunday next, after evening-service, a prosecution he commenced against 
such ch.-wardens at the charge of the parish. Gas. Frederick, &c. 

March 23, 1774. Whereas public notice was given on Sunday last 
for a vestry to he held this day at 4 o’clock in the afternoon, in order 
to consult about the times, when it will be most convenient for the in¬ 
habitants of Bampton to he excused from being called forth to perform 
their statute-duty, according to the indulgence, given them by an act 
passed in the last sessions of Parliament for the “ Amendment and pre¬ 
servation of the public highways of this kingdom,” we, whose names 
are hereunto subscribed being assembled in vestry for the said purpose, 
do therefore agree, as well for ourselves as in behalf of the rest of the 
parishioners of Bampton aforesaid, to take the benefit of the indulgence, 
of three months given us by the said Act for not performing our sta¬ 
tute-duty in. And we do fix and appoint the said 3 months at the 
times following, viz : that the said inhabitants shall not be called upon 
to perform such duty between the 8th day of April, and the 8th day 
of May, which we consider as the seed-month, nor between the 25th 
day of June and the 25th day of July, which we consider as the hay- 
harvest-month, nor between the 22nd day of August and the 22nd day 
of September, which we consider as the corn harvest month. Wm. 
Roberts — &c. 

April 12, 1775. Whereas it appears from the accounts of Mr. 
Lisset, treasurer of the charity-lands, belonging to the poor of Bampton 
and Weald, that, upon the late advance of the rents of the said charity- 
lands, the quantity of bread to be distributed among the poor of the 
said parish may be considerably increased: It is hereby ordered that 
66 two-penny loaves he weekly distributed amongst the said poor at 
the usual time after divine service on every Sunday, in manner follow¬ 
ing, a two-penny loaf every week to each of the poor persons, whose 
names are mentioned in the list this day signed by us, against whose 
names the letter W is set, and one two-penny loaf every other week to 
each of the other poor persons mentioned in this said list: but in case 
any of the said poor shall neglect to attend divine service on any of 
the said Sundays, not being hindered by sickness, he or she or they, so 
absenting themselves, shall forfeit the said bread. J. Mander — &c. 

May 4th, 1777. Whereas John Hanks and James Saunders, Joseph 


HISTORY OF BAMPTON. 


51 


Orpwood, and William Brooks have taken possession of certain tene¬ 
ments, commons’and hereditaments belonging to] the parish of Bampton, 
being churchlands, the rents whereof are to be applied to the repair of 
the church of Bampton aforesaid, and refuse to deliver up the posses¬ 
sion thereof, or to pay any rent for the same; we, trustees of the said 
premises for the purpose aforesaid, considering it as our duty to recover 
possession of the said premises, do hereby resolve that prosecutions he 
immediately commenced against the persons who keep possession 
of the said premises and that Mr. John Leake, attorney-at-law, he em¬ 
ployed to carry on such prosecution. John Mander, &c. 

Eight writings, belonging to Lew estate, was delivered to Mr. Leake, 
the 11th May, 1777, in order to have a case drawn thereon for the 
opinion of counsel. 

As the practice of cutting and stealing wood, &c. is now become no¬ 
torious and calls aloud for our most vigorous efforts in suppressing so 
growing an evil, we, the principal occupiers of the lands in Bampton 
and Weald, now in Vestry assembled, do order that all persons, who 
shall hereaftor he detected in cutting, taking, and carrying away any 
sort of hedge-wood, damaging or destroying any timber-trees, or the 
lops or tops thereof, without the consent of the owner or owners, or 
shall wilfully break down any gates, stiles, post, or rails, &c. from any 
of the inclosed lands within the liberties of Bampton and Weald, shall 
he punished to the utmost severity of the law. And in order the more easy 
to detect and bring to justice all persons concerned herein, we do hereby 
promise a reward of half-a-guinea to any one who shall from time to 
time, and at all times hereafter, be the means of convicting all such of¬ 
fenders as aforesaid, to be forthwith paid by the overseers, or either of 
them : and we do further order that all other the expenses attending the 
detecting and bringing to justice such persons as aforesaid shall he like¬ 
wise paid by the Over-seers and placed in their accounts, as Witness 
our hands this 9th day of Dec., in the year of our Lord 1781. J. Andrews, 
—Wm. Roberts—&c. 

Ata vestry held the 2nd day of June, 1782, ordered that five shillings 
he taken from the ringing-mony, and given to the choir of singers, and 
that the farther sum of one guinea per year be added to the said sum to 
he paid by the church-wardens. S. Johnson, Vicar—Wm: Church, 
Curate.—&c. 

At the same time agreed that the hell, called the Corfue bell, be rung, 
as usual, at 8 o’clock in the evening all the year, and at 4 o’clock in 
the morning during the summer half-year, viz: from Lady-day to 
Michaelmas. 

Ordered in vestry, this 18th day of June 1786, that it shall be decent¬ 
ly railed with oak across the chancel near the communion-table. C. 
Hawtrey, Vicar. Wm. Hawkins, W. Church, Wm. Lissett, Jona. Arnatt, 
W. King, Wm. Roberts, Edw. Whitaker. 

July 11, 1786. A vestry was then held, pursuant to due notice given 
for that purpose, to resolve on the best mode of letting the church aud 
charity-estates belonging to this parish. Present the Rev. Charles Haw¬ 
trey, Jos. Andrews, Wm. Roberts, J. Bantin, Jos. Shingleton, Wm. Lis- 
set, Rob. Ycatman, John Mander. 


52 


HISTORY OF BAMPTON. 


r Resolved that the best mode of letting the said church and charity- 
estates, in future, will be by public auction, upon leases for a term not ex¬ 
ceeding 7 years, with proper covenants tor the tenants to manure, keep 
up the mounds, and upon such other terms as shall be expressed 
in the conditions of the said auction, to be settled by the 
majority of the Trustees, previous to the said auction; and that le¬ 
gal notice he given to the several tenants to quit the several lands 
respectively held by them on or before Lady-day next. C. Hawtrey 
—&c. 

May 17th, 1789. At a vestry this day held for the purpose of choosing 
a sexton in the room of Benjamin Collingwood deceased : We, the un¬ 
derwritten, do nominate and appoint Mary Collingwood widow of 
the deceased Benj. Collingwood to hold the office of sexton, during 
the discretion of the parishioners, and at the usual stipend; and that 
the said Mary Collingwood shall cause the bell to be rung as usual, 
viz. at 4 in the morning aud 8 in the evening, during the whole 
year, holidays excepted. Jos. Andrews, &c. 

N. B. To he understood at 4 in the morning from Lady-day to 
Mic. and from Mic. to Lady-day at 5 in the morning. 

Near the end of the volume is a list of the overseers of the 
poor for Bampton and Weald from 1759 to 1794. 

I conclude this section with another extract from the latest 
vestry-book, which, being still in use, is kept in the large wood¬ 
en chest before-mentioned. 

4th January, 1829. At a vestry meeting this day held, pursuant to 
due notice for taking into consideration and determining upon the ne¬ 
cessary measures to be taken for ascertaining in what funds or on what 
other securities certain charity-monies belonging to the town or parish 
of Bampton given by the late Mrs. Snell, the Mrs. Fredericks, and 
Mrs. Croft, are invested, and of the means of restoring or recover¬ 
ing the same and appointing trustees, to carry the directions of the dif¬ 
ferent donors into execution, and also of considering and determining 
by what means the expenses incurred and to be incurred, in and about 
the same, should be defrayed, and of determining upon all other mat¬ 
ters which might appear necessary, relating to the same charities; the 
Rev. Thomas Burrow in the chair: Resolved that directions be 
immediately given by the Parish-officers of Bampton and Weald, to 
Mr. Rose, Attorney at law, to take such steps as may be deemed neces¬ 
sary or expedient to ascertain in what fund or funds, or what other 
securities, the said moneys are invested, and to institute such proceed¬ 
ings at law or in equity as he shall he directed by the twcr resident 
vicars and the churchwardens and overseers or the major part of them, for 
restoring, replacing, recovering, or securing the said charity-moneys, 
and appointing Trustees for carrying the directions of the different 
donors into execution, (such trustees to be nominated at a vestry¬ 
meeting, to be called for that purpose): and that all expenses incurred, 
and to be incurred, in and about the same, or in any-wise relating 
thereto, to he paid by the said parish-officers out of the poor rate or 


HISTORY OF BAMPTON. 


53 


rates of the said parish, and that the said parish he repaid the same out of 
the interest or dividends now in arrear of the said charity-moneys, or 
out of the principal sum or sums thereof. Tiios. Burrow, chairman. 
J. R. Winstanley, vicar. W. J. Walker. W. Roberts. James Ward. 
Joseph Hall. James Clack. Rich. Clark, John Knapp. 

At this same meeting it is resolved that all deeds, books, parchments, 
papers, and documents or copies thereof whatsoever and wheresoever, 
belonging to or in any wise concerning the interests of the parish of 
Bampton, be forthwith lodged in the parish-chest, and be kept under 
proper locks and keys, to be part in the custody of the vicars, and part 
in the keeping of the churchwardens; and that an immediate appli¬ 
cation be made by the parish-ofticers to all those, who may have 
any such documents, as aforesaid, in their possession, to be kind 
enough to deliver up the same for the said purpose — T. Burrow 
&c. [as above and moreover] Wm. Andrews. Edward Kerwood. 

Feb. 27, 1829. At a general vestry this day liolden in the vestry-room, 
pursuant to due notice, to nominate proper persons to be trustees 
of the charities given by the late Mrs. Snell, the Mrs. Fredericks 
and Mrs. Croft, the Rev. Thomas Burrow in the chair— Resolved 
that the vicars for the time being, the churchwardens of Bampton 
and Weald for the time being, Frederick Whitaker esq., Rev. Wm. 
Jos. Walker, clerk, Jonathan Arnatt, Wm Andrews, James Ward, 
and Thomas Green are fit and proper persons to be trustees for the 
said charities, and they are hereby nominated accordingly. Tuos. 
Burrow, chairman. J. R. Winstanley, vicar. James Ward. Jos. Hall. 
Wm. Andrews, James Rose. 

§ 10. DEEDS IN THE GREAT IRON CHEST. 

In the great iron chest, besides the old vestry-books, are 
contained a large number of deeds relating to the charities of 
the town, securities for charity-money lent on mortgages, besides 
other papers, of a more temporary interest, and now of little or 
no value to the parish. The principal of these papers will be 
hereafter referred to, under the head of the “ Public Charities 
of Bampton. 

§ 11. Op THE POLICE AND CIVIL GOVERNMENT OP THE TOWN. 

Not many years ago the lords of the manor ol Hamp¬ 
ton still continued to hold courts-lect, to appoint consta¬ 
bles, and to practise many other feudal customs which were 
general in the days ol our forefathers. 

All these customs have now almost entirely disappeared : 


54 


HISTORY OF BAMPTON. 


the spirit of the nineteenth century has pushed his re¬ 
forming progress even faster than the railway, and lias 
shown himself in Bampton, where his rival has not yet 
dared to come! The constables of Bampton are elected 
no longer by the lords of the manor, but according to the 
modern Act of Parliament, by which the duties of those officers 
are now generally regulated. 

The town has a further guarantee for its tranquillity in the 
residence of two magistrates, P. Whitaker, Esq. and the vicar 
of (he second portion, the Rev. Dacres Adams. There is also 
a board of Inspectors appointed by the vestry-meeting, to take 
further charge of the property of the inhabitants, and to enlight¬ 
en their ways by night. Happily the people of Bampton are 
famous for their honesty and single-mindedness, so that the 
Inspectors, who meet once a month at the Town-Hall, do 
not suffer much from the weight of their public duties. 
Neither do they waste much oil in the service of the inhabi¬ 
tants : four lamps, affixed to the corners of the Market-house, 
are sufficient to shew by night that there is such a building in 
existence and how dark besides is all around it! The two 
watchmen and the bedel,* who act under the orders of the In¬ 
spectors, are a terror to all the e\il-doers, old and young, in 
the tow n and neighbourhood. 

§. 12. THE TOWN-HALL. 

In the centre of the market-place stands the Town Hall, 
to which I have before alluded at page 21. This build¬ 
ing was erected a few years ago by subscription. The cost 
of it amounted to about £300 : and the lords of the manor 
agreed with the subscribers to convey the fee-simple of this 
building to Trustees for the use of the inhabitants for 

* The bedel of Bampton is a very ancient officer. He occurs in an instrument of 
the thirteenth century. See Appendix, No VI. 





HISTORY OF BAMPTON. 


55-, 


ever. This arrangement however has not yet been completed, 
from the deficiency of money to pay the necessary expenses 
of the conveyance. The large upper-room is used for the 
meetings of the Magistrates and of the Board of Inspectors, 
besides other casual purposes, such as for itinerant exhibitions 
and the performances of public lectures. A small sum is raised 
from these sources, but hardly sufficient to heat the room and 
to pay for the windows, which are broken by the boys congrer 
gated in the market-place below. 

§ 13. The public amusements of Bampton, St. Ste¬ 
phen's BREAKFAST, CIRCUITING, FAIRS, MORRIS-DANCERS, 

MUMMERS. 

It has often been a subject of regret with those who 
desire to promote the innocent enjoyments of their fellow-ci¬ 
tizens, that the people in general have so few opportuni¬ 
ties of meeting together for recreation after their daily labours, 
or for the healthy games and pastimes in which our fathers so 
much delighted. Since the days of the Puritans—those stern 
philosophers, who in avoiding one superstition rushed head* 
long into its opposite, equally if not still more pernicious—all 
the sports and recreations of the people have been abolish¬ 
ed ; or have retired from public \iew r within the doors of 
those wdio can afford to pay for the gratification. It 
might have been anticipated, from the primitive character of 
Bampton and the adherence of its inhabitants to long esta- 
blished customs, that many ancient practices, elsevdiere 
obsolete, w r ould here have been retained with something 
denoting their former history. But the list of these amuse¬ 
ments and ancient pastimes is very brief: and it is to be feared 
that the remnants which still exist may ere long entirely dis¬ 
appear. 


8 


56 


HISTORY OF BAMPTON. 


Of the festivals which formerly were held at Bampton, but 
have now ceased to exist, and are almost forgotten by all, except 
the oldest of the inhabitants, the most popular and entertaining 
were “ St. Stephen’s Breakfast” and the “ Circuiting.” The 
former of these was a remnant of those public rejoicings, which 
were once so prevalent in England, and were generally accom¬ 
panied with good eating— a luxury, now-a-days, unfortunately 
very difficult to be obtained by the greater part of the people 
of England. These banquetings were, certainly, often attend¬ 
ed with much licence and disorder, as the author of "Some 
Account of the ancient and present state of Shewsbury, [12mo, 
1808.]” justly observes, but I cannot refrain from wishing 
that the people could have more frequent occasions of regaling 
themselves on such good and wholesome elements as beef and 
beer, even at the expense of a little indecorum, which, I think, 
would in these times be hardly carried to such length as to ren¬ 
der an Act ofParliament necessary to restrain it. At Shrewsbury, 
however, in A. D. 1540, which was the 81st of Henry VIII, the 
inhabitants carried their jokes too far, and an order was made 
“ that the breakfasts, given by the Bayliffs on Christmas-day, 
between Matyns and hyghe mass, be no longer used for diverse 
consyderascions and misorder that have come by reason of the 
same.” 

It was probably customary for the bayliffs and aldermen [of Shrews¬ 
bury] to attend the early matins at two o’clock in the morning of Christ¬ 
mas day in their formalities, in St Mary’s or St Chad’s church, which on 
that occasion was splendidly illuminated; from thence they returned to 
the hall in procession accompained by many of the inhabitants, when 
the break-fast here mentioned, consisting of beef, brawn, minced pies 
and ale, was given, and perhaps the carousing continued until the time of 
high mass, at which the bailiffs also doubtless were present. 1’fiis custom 
of attending the matins on Christmas day gave rise to a religious cere¬ 
mony, which until these thirty years was universally observed in North 
Wales. The churches were lighted up according to the opulence of the 
parish ; the people assembled in them at three o’clock in the morning, 
and after the prayers and a sermon were concluded, they continued 


HISTORY OF HAMPTON. 


singing psalms tiil day-light, when they returned home to partake of 
the accustomed good cheer of the season. Those, who from age or infirm¬ 
ity were prevented attending the church, invariably arose at that early 
hour, read the prayers in their own houses, and sang the appropriate 
psalms ; this act of devotion was called plygain “ the crowing of the 
cock,” our blessed Saviour’s birth, as it was superstitiously imagined, 
having been anounced by that animal, and ever after during the holy 
season the cock was supposed to exert his power throughout the 
night. 

“ Some say, that ever,’gainst that season comes, 

Wherein our Saviour’s birth is celebrated, 

The bird of dawning singeth all night long; 

And then they say no spirit walks abroad.” 

Traces of these religious breakfasts are said to have been still 
met with in several parishes of England, within the last fifty 
or sixty years. But the only one of the kind which I have ever 
heard of, was “ St. Stephen's breakfast/' held formerly at Bamp- 
ton, and so called from St. Stephen's day, the 26th of December, 
on which it was celebrated. Erom the accounts which have 
been given me by some of the elderly inhabitants, it appears 
that those who rented the tithes used to boil a large quantity 
of beef early on the morning of St. Stephen's day, and send it, 
smoking hot, to the three vicarages, where it formed the centre 
of a large circle of farmers and others who were assembled to 
partake of the breakfast. What other solemnities accompanied 
this feast, I have not been able to ascertain, but there is no 
doubt that the rest of the day was devoted to jollification, and 
that no one, who had been in any way connected with the 
breakfast, ever conceived a thought of returning to his labour 
until the next morning. 

The next occasion of holiday to the people of Bampton was 
the ceremony of “circuiting" or “processioning," as it was some* 
times termed. This took place in Rogation-week, and its ob¬ 
ject was, in fact, to identify and maintain the bounds of the 
parish, by annually circumambulating them. This custom, 
like that of St. Stephen's breakfast, disappeared after the Tn* 


HISTORY OF BAMPTON. 


7)8 

closure-Act of 1812 : and is therefore unknown, except by 
tradition, to all the young people of the existing generation. 
The elderly inhabitants, however, still remember the glories 
of "circuiting,” and the description which they give of its lux¬ 
uries is sufficiently spicy to make the mouths water of all the 
younger part of the community who hear it. 

The ceremony took place in Rogation-week. 

On Monday morning the “circuiters” went in full proces¬ 
sion to Clanfield, as far as the tithing of Bampton extended. 
Here they took breakfast at the house of Mr. Chiswell, who 
farmed the tithes coming in from the parish of Clanfield. 

On Tuesday they visited Haddon, where they were regaled in 
like manner with good eating and drinking. On their return 
they went to a place called Heart's Yat on the common, (then 
unenclosed,) near Lew. Here they took their seats on the 
banks of a dry ditch in which were placed a bag of bread 
and a barrel of beer. When these dainties were consumed, the 
party returned home. 

On Wednesday the circuit went to Aston, where they took 
their meal at “Cote Hatch gate,” which opens from the road 
upon the common, near Cote House. 

On all the three days the “ Processioners” were accompanied 
by a woman who had never been married—the last functionary 
of this description was Ann 'Edginton—who carried a paddle, 
and cut deep crosses at certain places, to mark the bounds of 
the parish, and the course of the procession in future years. 

On each day, also, the party were provided with refreshment 
on their return; a barrel of beer was distributed amohg them 
near the church-yard, and two bags of bread were thrown among 
the people, who scrambled for the same^and the most humorous 
scenes were sometimes enacted. 

These holidays have now long ago ceased ; those persons 


HI3TORY OF BAMPTON. 


5 <J 

who formerly gave the beer and other provisions, have saved 
their pockets from the expense, but the same economy has 
taken away from the poor one more gleam of sail-shine which 
used to enliven their hard lot of daily and incessant labour! 

The principal festival of Bampton is its annual fair, 
which takes place on the 26th of August, and is a sort 
of carnival to all the neighbouring villages. This fair is 
of great antiquity, having been originally held by William 
de Valence in the early part of the thirteenth century. We 
learn this fact from an Inquisition made in the reign of 
Edward I before Jurors, who find upon their oath that the 
"aforesaid William de Valence hath there [i. e. at Bamp¬ 
ton] a market and a fair; and that he had the aforesaid 
tenement by the gift of king Henry [the Hid] father 
of the king Edward that now is.” 

The celebrity of Bampton fair arises from two causes, first 
the large number of horses w r hich are sold there, secondly 
from the large number of children, servants and other 
persons, who flock thither from the whole neighbourhood, 
and enjoy it as much as the Greeks and Romans did 
their Saturnalia. 

A curious tradition has been handed down, connecting 
Bampton fair with the church-establishment; but as the 
only notice, which I can find of it, occurs in the Raw- 
linson MS before mentioned, I give the words extracted 
from that book, where it occurs under the head of 

Bampton hundred, without word or comment. 

“Fair on the 15th of Aug. and on the next Sunday, whether before 
or after the said 15th, the Vicar of Ensham preaches a sermon and is 
paid 13s. 4d. by that vicar of Bampton who has the tithes of Aston 
that year: this, I believe, was due to the abbat of Einsham formerly.’ 

A second fair was once held at Bampton on the 24th of 
March, on which day an ox was roasted whole, and sold 


o 


60 


HISTORY OF BAMPTON. 


in small quantities to all who wished to become purchasers. 
Of this fair no traces now remain. 

Another season of festivity is "Whitsuntide, when the Morris- 
dancers exhibit their saltatory powers for the amusement of the 
people, and to gather a few shillings for their own private emo¬ 
lument. As these functionaries do nothing but dance, and 
thoroughly fatigue themselves before night-fall, they may be 
considered to have earned the hot suppers and mulled ale, 
w 7 hich probably terminate the festival, but they have no farther 
claim to delay the progress of this history. 

A third attempt at festivity is made at Christmas, when all 
the officials of the parish are on the move; bent—as are their 
betters at all times—upon gain, and with honest and smiling 
faces claiming their Christmas boxes. A troop of lads, also, 
as mummers, parade the streets during three or four evenings in 
succession, endeavouring, but, alas with less success than their 
great-grand-fathers, to gain admission into the houses of the 
respectable inhabitants for the performance of their knightly 
deeds of prowess. These are the only vestiges of ancient 
public customs now rem aining, and little else ever occurs, ex¬ 
cept the arrival of some stray lecturer, conjuror, juggler, or other 
performer, to disturb the repose which generally prevails in 
this little town. 


§ 14. The haunted house, and death-warning op the 

Wood family. 

Every village has its legends and tales of horror, which, 
after having caused awe and terror to a former generation, 

serve to create laughter and amusement to their posterity,__ 

like a gigantic broad-sword of former days, which, having long 
been kept as the monument of some knight's prowess in battle, 


61 


HISTORY OF BAMPTON. 

at length is degraded from its place and becomes a hobby to 
one of his great-great-grand-children ! 

Bampton is not without its ghost-stories: the most r emark- 
able of these is that of the Haunted House, in which a family 
of the name of Wood formerly resided, and in which certain 
preternatural noises are said to have been heard, forewarning 
the family, whenever any of its members was about to die. I 
have already mentioned this house as situated on the North 
side of the Church, and, though bearing a respectable and rather 
smart appearance in front, — the effect of modern improve¬ 
ments,—it is supposed to be of considerable antiquity, without 
which of course no ghost-story obtains permanent credit. It is 
nearly 200 years ago that the Wood family lived at Bampton, 
and yet the same ghosts, who disturbed their peace, have been 
suspected of having occasioned similar annoyance to respect¬ 
able and credible persons still living. 

Let us first hear the account which is given of the Wood 
family's warning, as it is told by Dr. Plott in his Natural His¬ 
tory of Oxfordshire, chap, viii, § 3, &c. 

“ I must add also a relation, as strange as ’tis true, of the family of 
one Captain Wood, late of Bampton, now of Brise-Norton, Captain in 
the late wars for the King ; some whereof before their deaths have had 
signal warnings given them by 9 certain knocking,* either at the door 
without, or on the tables or shelves within, the number of strokes, and 
the distance between them and the place where, for the most part res¬ 
pecting the circumstances of the persons to die, or their deaths them¬ 
selves, as will easily be collected from the following relation. The 
first knocking that was heard, or at least observed, was about a year 
after the restoration of the king (anno 1661) in the afternoon a little be¬ 
fore night, or upon the door, it being then open, as it was apprehended by 
Mrs. Eleanor Wood, mother to Captain Basil Wood who only heard it, 
none being then by or about the house but her ; at which she was very 
much disturbed, thinking it boded some ill to her or hers, and within 14 
nights after she had news of the death of her son-in-law, Mr. George 
Smith, who died in London. 


•“Three loud and distinct knocks at the bed’s head,” says Grose, “ of a sick person,, 
or at the bed’s head or door of any of his relations, is an omen of his death." 

For further information concerning this superstition see Brand’s Popular Antiquities, 
edited by Sir H, Ellia, vol. III. p. 121. 



62 


HISTORY OF BAMPTON. 


About three years after that, there were three great knocks given 
very audibly to all that were then in the house, viz. to the afore¬ 
said Mrs. Eleanor Wood, Mr. Basil Wood, and his wife Mrs. Hes¬ 
ter, and some servants, which knocks were so remarkable, that one of 
the maids came from the well, which was about twenty yards from the 
place, to see what was the matter; and Mrs. Eleanor Wood, and ano¬ 
ther maid that was within the house, saw three great pans of lard shake 
and totter upon a shelf in the milk house, that they were like to fall 
down. Upon this violent knocking, Mr. Basil Wood and his wife, being 
then in the Hall, came presently into the milk-house to their mother, 
where finding her somewhat disturbed and enquiring the reason, she re¬ 
plied, God Almighty only knew the matter; she could tell nothing, 
but she heard the knocking. Which being within doors, Mr. Basil 
Wood concluded must be for some of the family at home, that upon the 
door being for a friend abroad; which accordingly fell out; three of 
the family, according to the number of the knocks, dying within little 
more than half a year after, viz. Mrs. Hester Wood, wife of Mr. Basil 
Wood, a child of Mr. Wood’s sister, and Mrs. Eleanor Wood his 
mother. 

About August, 1674, Mr. Basil Wood Junior, son of Basil aforesaid, 
living at Exeter, heard the same kinds of knockiug, at which being dis¬ 
turbed, he wrote word to his father here at Bampton in Oxfordshire, 
viz, that one Sunday he and his wife, and her sister and his brother did 
distinctly hear upon a table in their chamber, as they stood by it, 
two several knocks struck (as it were) with a cudgel, one of them before, 
and the other after morning-prayer, a little before dinner. Which 
letter was shown by Mr. Wood Senior, (as the other knockings before 
the deaths of any that died, were before-hand told) to several neigh¬ 
bouring gentlemen. After which within about 14 days Mrs. Hester 
Wood, a second wife of Mr. Basil Wood, Senior, and about a quarter 
of a year after, her father, Mr. Richard Lesset died, both at Bampton : 
since which time they have heard no thing more as yet.” 

This is the account which Dr. Plott gave concerning the 
Ghost of the Wood family in his Natural History of Oxfordshire, 
which was published in A. D. 1671, and the reader will find 
the subject alluded to in a Catalogue of natural and artificial 
curiosities, &c. printed in the Appendix to this volume, and 
copied out of a Manuscript which was probably written some 
years before the appearance of Dr. PlotPs History. 

The lovers of the marvellous will rejoice to hear that the 
operations of the Ghost have not ceased, after the lapse of 
nearly two hundred years, but, as the family of the Woods 
have long since been deposited “ with all the Capulets” in the 


HISTORY OF BAMPTON. 


63 


silent tomb, the supernatural agent which formerly announced 
the approaching death of the members of that family, must be 
supposed loath to resign his occupation, and to continue his 
pranks that he may amuse himself with the alarm which he 
occasions to his lodgers. 

Certain it is that within the last twenty years the same house 
has borne a suspicious character, and often caused the sobriety 
of its inmates to be called in question for the scampering up 
and down the stairs and other noises, which have taken place 
in it. A gentleman, not very far advanced in years, who was 
occupying it as his residence, has been known to rise from his 
bed, and to ascend to the upper-story, aroused by a sound of foot¬ 
steps, as of some one pacing to and fro in the room above: 
but on his entering, the noise has ceased, and every thing par¬ 
took of the silence and tranquillity of the night. 

The same gentleman, or another — for the most common 
events of history are liable to doubts and contradictions — rose 
on another occasion, in the middle of the night, alarmed by a 
noise in the garden. “ Forewarned is half-armed ” says the 
proverb, but the hero of this adventure determined to be 
wholly armed for this supernatural warfare, and had the pre¬ 
caution to carry with him a great stick — or a sword—for here 
again report has spread different versions of the story — and 
when he reached the garden, brave in conscious innocence and 
fortified by the justice of his cause, he resolved to assume the 
offensive. At the same instant a ghostly whiteness revealed to 
him the position which his foe had taken up : he summoned 
his resolution and raised on high his weapon, which, true to 
the mark, descended with unerring might, and felled to the 
ground—a large sun-flower. 

About the same time the game-keeper of the Lord of the ma¬ 
nor chanced to sleep alone in this house and the adventure, which 

9 


64 


HISTORY OF BAMPTON. 


happened to him, was fatal — not to the honest yeoman, who 
is still alive after all his dangers — but to the unoffending gate 
of the premises, which was riven and shattered to pieces by 
the bullets which the terrified yet brave retainer discharged, in 
the dead of night, from his blunderbuss, at the ghost which 
he said assailed him. 

At a later period the owner of this fearful house caused the 
old roof to be removed, and to be replaced by a new one. This 
catastrophe was unexpected and fatal to the ghost, — for 
ghosts like to have a decent house over their heads, as much 
as Christians — and as nearly a thousand rats were seen scam¬ 
pering off in all directions and no noises have since been heard, 
it is believed that the supernatural occupier must have taken 
advantage of so large a marching army, to cover his own retreat 
and to escape in such good company. 

§ 15. BAMPTON CASTLE. 

At a short distance to the westward of the Church and Dean¬ 
ery, from which it is separated by the brook that supplies the 
mill, stand the ruins of Bampton Castle : sometimes called 
Ham Court, and at present forming two farm houses, which be¬ 
long to the Earl of Shrewsbury and Thomas Denton esquire, 
the lords of the manor. These ruins are very scanty and uu- 
important in their existing state, being nothing more than the 
gateway, which is now divided by a floor into an upper and low¬ 
er chamber, and a fragment of wall furnished with loopholes and 
battlements in the usual manner of such fortresses. Yet not¬ 
withstanding its mutilated state, there are two or three interest¬ 
ing portions still existing. The groined roof of the upper 
chambers, the spiral stone stair-case, and the nitches in the 
walls with narrow slits for the discharge of missiles, are still 


curious. 



RUINS OF CAS TLE . 









HISTORY OF BAMPTON. 


65 

It has been said that this castle was built by King John, but 
there is no record of his having been the founder. On the con¬ 
trary, when the reader shall have perused the narrative of facts 
which will presently be related in chronological order concern¬ 
ing the manor of Bampton and the famous family de Valence, 
lie will, I have no doubt, agree with me in the opinion that Bamp¬ 
ton castle was erected in the year 1314-15, by the famous 
Aylmer de Valence, Earl of Pembroke. The following observa¬ 
tions on Bampton castle are from Skelton's Antiquities of 
Oxfordshire. 

“ In Wood’s MSS in the Ashmolean Museum this castle is stated to 
have been of a quadrangular form, moated round and to have had towersf 
at each corner, and a gate-house of tower-like character on the west 
and east sides. Of these Wood’s imperfect representations, engraved 
by Michael Burghers, and published in Hearne’s Life of Wood, may af¬ 
ford some idea. 

Robert Veysey, of Chimney, near Bampton, had a parchment roll, 
containing an inquisition concerning the manor of Bampton, in which 
mention was made of the building of this castle, when and by whom. 
Dr. Langbaine, sometime provost of Queen’s college, Oxon, had a 
copy of it. After his death Wood saw it in the possession of Dr. 
Lamplugh, bishop of Exeter. 

When Wood visited Bampton castle, on the 7th of Septr. 1664, near¬ 
ly the whole western front was standing. 

In the “ Beauties of England and Wales," also, I find the 
following passage concerning the remains of Bampton castle: 


f “ It had a round tower at each corner, which had an ascent of stone stepps ; and 
for speedier conveyances up to the said wall, there were, besides those four towers, a 
large and high gate-house (tower-like) on the west and east sides, (some say on 
every side) of which what remained was the west tower.” Rawlinson MS. 

There are in this book many curious notices of different places. As Bampton and 
Witney are much connected, some of my readers may be amused with the following 
extract about the latter town. 

Witxey DAILY Journal, May 1, 1728, Wednesday -“ We have the following 

remarkable account from Witney in Oxfordshire, viz. that some days since, the child 
of one John Marriott being baptized, there were present no less than five grandmo¬ 
thers, the child’s father’s father was Godfather, the father’s father’s mother was one 
Godmother, and the father’s father’s mother was the other Godmother, whose name 
is Ursula Townsend of Staple-Hall in Witney : she is upwards of 100 years old, a 
hearty woman, and has now above 150 children and grandchildren living.” 




f»6 


HISTORY OF BA MPT ON. 


“ They would appear to he not older than the reign of Edward the 
Second or Third. Some ornaments were evidently bestowed on the 
interior by Henry the Seventh ; for in the cieling of the principal 
room now standing, are repiesented the red and white roses united. 

The castle will again occur to notice in connection with the 
historical events which have happened in or near the town of 
Bampton. 

§ 16. LEGEND OF THE LADY-WELL. 

In the time when the Homan Catholic church prevailed 
throughout Europe, almost every thing was, by reason of some 
legendary tale, made an object of sanctity or superstition to the 
people. Wells and fountains, in particular, were objects of 
reverence to the Christians, as they had been to the Pagans be¬ 
fore the Christian Religion was established. The nymph of the 
“ Grotto,” of the “ River,” or of the “ Fountain,” was displac¬ 
ed, and one of the Saints of tire Church, the Holy Virgin, or 
perhaps even Christ himself, was installed as the tutelary Guar¬ 
dian of the pure element, which ministers so largely to the 
uses and necessities of mankind. 

In the parish of Bampton are two “ Holy Wells.” Concern¬ 
ing one of these, from which a field beyond Cote House on the 
road to Shifford is still called “ Holy-well field,” no legend has 
been recorded, but the other has been rendered famous by tra¬ 
dition, and its reputation has come down almost to our own 
times.* It is distant about 200 yards from the northern wall 
of the castle, and is so thickly covered with bushes, that a 
stranger could with difficulty find it without a guide. The 
field, which lies between it and the Castle, seems to have been 
formerly used as a tilting-area in which the garrison assembled 
for tournaments and other exhibitions. It is quadrangular, and 


* Pilgrimages to Holy Wells were forbidden by the fifth law of Canute king of 
England. 



HISTORY OF IUMPTON. 


G7 


surrounded by a moat, which is of lesser dimensions than that 

* 

which protects the Castle itself. In the hollow ground formed 
by the crumbled sides of this moat, and near its western angle, 
the ancient well is situated. 

The water is still of the most pellucid clearness, sweet to 
the taste, though much neglected, full of fallen leaves, and, 
haunted by vermin. The spot is sufficiently secluded to ac¬ 
count for the sacred character which it bears and to have call¬ 
ed forth those feelings of superstition or enthusiasm, which 
were common in the Middle Ages. The stone-work, with 
which the sides of the Fountain are protected from the weight of 
earth and trees, whose roots penetrate through the crevices, is 
still in tolerable preservation, though four or five hundred years 
have probably p assed away, since it was erected. The little nook 
has in fact, under the patronage of “ Our Lady of the "Well,” 
been hardly touched by the ruthless hands of the spoiler, be¬ 
fore whom the massive Castle and its out-works have almost 
entirely ceased to exist. Tradition informs us that the Foun¬ 
tain first attracted the notice of the neighbouring peasants by 
the healing nature of its waters. The cattle of the neighbour¬ 
hood were thought to be more free from disorders than those 
which fed on other pastures ; and in process of time, its virtues 
were found to apply to the peasants themselves. The piety of 
the church took a hint from the admiration and credulity of the 
people, and it began to be credibly reported that Our Lady the 
Virgin delighted to haunt the place, and perform her personal 
ablutions in the miraculous Well. When this report was suffi¬ 
ciently propagated, the inhabitants of the adjoining villages 
flocked thither in large numbers, bringing with them their 
children and relatives, to be dipped in the Well, as a certain 
cure for every species of disease. This practice, — which we 
may be sure was accompanied with the payment of some fee or 


08 


HISTORY OF BAMPTON. 


compensation to the guardians of the sacred place— continued 
for many centuries, and almost even to the present day. It 
is only thirty-three years since the death of an old inhabitant 
of the town [Elizabeth Skinner] who had known many children, 
having fits and other diseases, carried many miles to be cured 
of their complaints, by being immersed in the “Lady-Well/’ 

The present generation, however, have ceased to avail 
themselves of the medicinal properties of these waters, which 
have either lost their virtue, or are eclipsed by the supe¬ 
rior abilities of the Medical Practitioners to whose charge the 
health ofBampton is consigned. 

§ 17. THE GHOST OF COW-LEAS COR,NEE. 

Many years ago there was a custom, that those who had 
committed suicide should be buried in a place where four 
roads meet, with a stake driven through the body. There is no 
doubt that the effect of this law would be to create horror in 
ignorant minds, and so to deter them from the crime of self- 
murder by the ignominious ceremonial which awaited them and 
the mutilation of their body after death. The origin of this 
custom is lost in obscurity : it is impossible to say whether the 
practice arose from the pious wish to place the remains of the 
deceased under the keeping of the holy cross, of which the 
cross-roads formed a kind of rude imitation, or whether, on the 
other hand, it was done in abomination of the form of the cross. 
Both these feelings have prevailed at different periods of En¬ 
glish history. I shall make no apology for quoting the follow¬ 
ing passages in support of both these views. 

Richard Elecknoe, in his “ ./Enigmatical Characters,” 8vo, 
Bond. 1665, p. 83, speaking of your “ fanatical reformers,” says 
“ had they their will, a bird would not fly in the air, with its 


HISTORY OF BAMPTON. 


GO 


wings across , a ship with its cross-yard sail upon the sea, nor 
profane tailor sit cross-legged on his shop-board, or have cross- 
bottoms to winde his thread upon.” This whimsical detestation 
of the cross-form, says the author of the Popular Antiquities, 
“no doubt, took its rise from the odium at that time against 
every thing derived from Popery.” 

The opposite view of the question may be illustrated by 
Dalrymple, who, in his Travels in Spain, says, that there “ not 
a woman gets into a coach to go a hundred yards, nor a postil¬ 
lion on his horse without crossing themselves. Even the tops 
of tavern-bills and the directions of letters are marked with 
Crosses.” 

But it is unnecessary to multiply instances : for in every coun¬ 
try of Europe for the space of fifteen hundred years the greatest 
respect was paid to every thing which was cross-like in its form, 
and this feeling became at length almost as gross and contemp¬ 
tible as were the endeavonrs of the Puritans in after-ages to 
divest themselves of this superstition. 

At the distance of about half a mile from the western extre¬ 
mity of the town of Bampton, the road which leads to Clanfield 
and Earingdon is crossed by another, which, coming up from 
the hamlet of Weald, continues its course towards the north-west 
to Alvescott, Kencot, Bradwell, and other villages. At this 
point, which is sufficiently exposed to the winds and weather to 
enhance, if it were necessary, the horrors of the ceremony, it 
was customary formerly to bury, in the dead of night and by 
torch-light, the bodies of those unhappy beings, who had relieved 
themselves of the evils, “ which they knew of,” in this world by 
“ fleeing to others which they knew not of.” The spot is, how¬ 
ever, known—not by any appellation derived from the burial 
of the suicide, but by the homely and pastoral designation of 
“ Cow-leas Corner;” and all memory of the unhallowed corpses 


70 


HISTORY OF BAMPTON. 


wliich have there mouldered, would long since llave perished, it 
it were not for the troubled spirits, which once occupied those 
sinful tabernacles of flesh, but now, rejected from their decayed 
habitations, and no longer liable to be consigned to the fled Sea 
and other lock-up-places by the Exorcists, which the Church 
once provided, they wander forth occasionally upon the world, 
aud, never departing far from their place of burial, alarm the 
farmers and peasants, who pass late at night near the fearful spot. 

There are persons still living, who assert that they have seen 
supernatural appearances in the neighbourhood of Cow-leas Cor¬ 
ner ; neither can it be said that such persons have been under 
the influence of liquor : for a state of inebriety has the effect of 
multiplying—or at least of doubling—the object which presents 
itself to the eye; and it is certain that all those who have ex¬ 
perienced such visitations have never seen more than one ghost 
at a time : besides which, their veracity has never been questi¬ 
oned and they have all returned in an alarmed state of mind, 
and often with the loss of a liat, shoe, or some other article of 
dress, in token of the terror occasioned to them by the super¬ 
natural visitor. 

About two years ago there lived in Bampton an old man since 
deceased, who formerly travelled as a higler between Bamptou 
and some of the neighbouring villages. In following the duties 
of his vocation he passed at all hours of the night by Cow-leas 
corner, and used to declare, to his dying day, that he had often 
seen the ghost which haunted that place. On ordinary occa¬ 
sions the apparition kept at a respectful distance from him and 
having merely shown himself to the higler, vanished in the shape 
of a calf, sheep, or some other rustic animal; but on one occa¬ 
sion his proceedings were of a more serious nature and assumed 
rather a diabolical character. The benighted traveller had stop- 


HISTORY OF BAMPTON. 


71 


ped so late at the fair some miles from home, that he did not 
reach the place till the clock was on the point of striking the 
hour of midnight. On reaching Cow-leas corner he attempted 
to urge his horse to greater speed, when something passed like 
a flash of lightning rapidly before his eyes. He bad no time to 
observe its form, in consequence of the swiftness of its motion. 
A loud noise followed, and the ghost, (for such no doubt it was,) 
glided backwards and forwards with the speed of light and the 
intangibility of a vapour, through the cart of the astonished hig- 
ler, as if he would cut it in pieces. It is not surprising that 
the horse, frightened at these doings, took to his heels, and soon 
extricated his master from this fearful collision with the beings 
of another world. The next morning the higler remembered 
that he had been out in a thunder-storm, but he would never 
allow that he had been guilty of insobriety, or that he had not 
been also attacked by the ghost in the formidable manner be¬ 
fore described. 

But there are persons still alive, who testify that they have 
seen this same apparition. One of these, a respectable trades¬ 
man of the town, about 35 years ago, when he was 15 years old, 
was returning home between the hours of ten and eleven at 
night, and had proceeded some distance beyond the usual loca¬ 
lity of the ghost, when he suddenly saw r before him an old man, 
as it appeared, dressed in a low-crowned hat and a light-coloured 
foul-weather great-coat, such as the shepherds of this neighbour¬ 
hood are known to wear w hilst attending on their flocks in win¬ 
ter or at night. Our traveller, taking it for Joseph Hitchcock, 
a shepherd who was known to w^ear such a costume, called out 
and advanced towards him : but as the one advanced, the other 
receded, so as to keep always the same distance between them. 
This line of conduct deuoted something more than a visitor of 

pastoral habits, and caused no little fear in the mind of the voung 

10 


72 


HISTORY OF BAMPL'ON. 


man. But, like Hamlet, he determined to follow and see the 
last of the adventure : so he continued to dodge his companion 
until they arrived nearly to the grounds belonging to Bampton 
Manor-house. Here the old gentleman turned through a gate¬ 
way into a field on the left hand side of the road, and the young 
man, looking into the field after him, was astonished to see no¬ 
thing in it but a calf: — the ghost had entirely vanished ! The 
catastrophe had such an effect on him, that he made the best 
of his way home, and for a week or more could hardly recover 
from the shock which he had received. 

§ 18. Or THE TRADE AND OCCUPATION OF THE INHABI¬ 
TANTS. 

Tradition—and probably the memory of some of our oldest 
inhabitants—tells us that Bampton was once as famous as Wood- 
. stock, for the manufacture of leathern gloves, gaiters, and other 
articles fabricated of the same material. 

This tradition is strongly supported by the following 
narrative. 

Mr. Robins, an old and respectable inhabitant of Bampfon, 
informs me that, about 20 years ago, he excavated some land 
lying at the back of his house, for the purpose of forming a 
garden. In the course of this operation, the labourers disco¬ 
vered as many as 40 or 50 tan-pits, most of which were still 
full of tan; there were, also, several bullock's horns, which 
fell to powder after they had been exposed for some time to the 
air. This fact proved not only that an extensive tanning-bu¬ 
siness was carried on at Bampton, but also that perhaps 200 
years have elapsed since those tan-pits were blocked up. Thus 
Time, which has been favourable to the staple manufactures of 
other places, has almost destroyed that of Bampton: for the glove- 
trade, formerly so thriving, is now reduced within the narrow- 







V- - 




- . 






ifr-rs 











HISTORY OF BAMPTON. 


73 


est limits; a single manufacturer of these articles still resides 
in the town, but he is obliged, in order to secure a maintenance 
for himself and his family, to travel to a considerable distance 
round the country, to procure purchasers for the commodity 
in which he deals. 

It may, therefore, briefly be stated that agriculture, — that 
most necessary of all trades and occupations, — engages the 
attention of nine-tenths of the population of Bampton; and 
not without reason, for though nearly all the inhabitants manage 
to pass through life without wearing gloves, there is not one of 
them, though too often driven towards such a fate by necessity, 
which is the Mother ol Invention, that has yet acquired the 
ability to do without bread and cheese. 

§ 19. Aston. 

The principal village in the parish of Bampton, next to 
the town itself, is Aston, situated about two miles between 
Bampton and Brighthampton. It is a humble and primeval 
looking place, with nothing, of interest, to attract the notice 
of the traveller. A few years ago a church was erected 
here, partly by subscription, and partly by other means. The 
building is cruciform and commodious, but the architect seems 
to have been content that his work should not rise greatly 
above the mediocrity, which is impressed on all the architectu¬ 
ral features of the village : it contains no ornamental details 
whatever. One corner of the north transept is boarded 
off to form a small vestry-room. On the front of the partition, 
which parts the little vestry from the church, is the following 
inscription : 

This chapel was erected in the year 1839: it contains 500 sittings, 
and, in consequence of a grant from the incorporated society for pro¬ 
moting the enlargement, building and repairing of churches and clia- 


71 


HISTORY OF BAMPTON. 


pels, 350 of that number are hereby declared to l5e free and unap¬ 
propriated for ever. 

Rev. Cranley Lancelot Kerby 

Rev. Dacres Adams > Ministers. 

R,ev. John Robinson Winstanley J 

W. Sparrowbawk, chapel-warden. 

Another inscription informs us that “the font was presented 
by the Rev. John Nelson, Sept. 2, 1839.” and that “The 
chapel was consecrated A. D. 1840.” 

An elderly inhabitant of the place, Mr. Fox, who lately 
died at the advanced age of 77, gave a donation of £ 4 per 
annum out of his hard-earned savings, to aid in the maintainance 
of this fabric for ever. Another inhabitant, Mr. Monk, also 
recently deceased, has left by will a sum of money to accumu¬ 
late until it shall suffice to build a tower or steeple. 

Next to the church in importance is the School-house, 
erected by the British and Foreign School Society. This 
is a large and commodious room, and is partly used as a place 
of worship by those inhabitants who are of the Baptist 
persuasion. 

Adjoining to the school is the house of the Baptist minister ; 
the late incumbent, the Rev. B. Wheeler, who was much 
respected by all his neighbours for the amiable and peaceful 
tenor of his life, has recently resigned his cure, and been suc¬ 
ceeded by the Rev. J. Jackson. 

Aston occurs in Leofribs charter, where it is called Est-tune 
i. e. East-town, but this is all we know about its former 
history. 

Among the illustrations to this volume is a seal bearing the 
following inscription “SIGILLUM commune domus Sancti 
Bartholomei de Calceto,” and copied from an old print which 
I found with other loose papers in the RauTnson MS. As 
/here are no traces of a monastic foundation having existed at 
Aston, I am inclined to think that the seal belongs to some 





HISTORY OF BAMPTON. 


75 

other place bearing the same name. 

§ 20. Of the system of farming which prevails 

AT ASTON AND COTE, RIGHTS OF COMMON, &C. 

Within the last century, nearly the whole parish of Bampton 
consisted of immense commons, which were farmed in a most 
siugular manner, such as, I suppose, formerly prevailed, more 
or less modified, in many other parts of the kingdom. This sys¬ 
tem, as has already been noticed, has for many years ceased in 
Bampton, Weald, and Lew, having been necessarily superseded, 
at the time of the Inclosure in 1812, by the more simple mode 
of private occupation which now prevails generally throughout 
the kingdom : but in the primaeval villages of Aston and Coat, 
where there are hardly a hundred acres of enclosure, the system 
of farming in common still prevails, and forms a fatal obstacle 
to the improvement which the land is capable of receiving. As 
in the course of twenty or thirty years, the few remaining traces 
of this system will probably disappear, the following account of 
it, if its intricacy does not puzzle the reader as much as it has 
already perplexed the writer, may be not unacceptable. 

The whole district of Aston and Cote is divided into three 
parts, 1. Common Field, 2. Common Meadow, and 3. Com¬ 
mon Pasture. The Common Field is ploughed and produces 
wheat, beans, oats, &c. &c. according to the four-course system 
already described in page 11. The Common Meadow r produces 
grass for hay, and the Common Pasture is used for feeding 
horses, cows and sheep, but the sheep are fed apart from the 
horses and cows in a portion of the Common Pasture appropria¬ 
ted to them only. The three divisions contain nearly all the 
land in the parish, but concerning the number of acres contain¬ 
ed in each division, I have not been able to obtain very accur¬ 
ate information. From the details which follow it appears that 


7G 


HISTORY OF BAMPTON. 


there may be about 2000 acres of Common Field/Common Mea¬ 
dow and Common Pasture combined. The whole of this land 
is supposed to be divided into 64 yard-lands, each of which, re¬ 
duced to statute measure, would contain about 30 acres, which 
very nearly confirms the estimate of the total extent of com¬ 
mon land, above-mentioned. But it appears that the yard-land 
is not a fixed measure, but was regulated in great part by the 
nature of the ground, and varies in different places as much as 
two or three acres. 

It is probable that, in the first instance, the number of yard- 
lands, 64, corresponded with the number of persons who enjoy¬ 
ed rights of common : but this is now no longer the case; for 
by far the larger part of the farmers of Aston have only half or 
even a quarter of a yard-land, whilst on the other hand some of 
the more wealthy have as many as ten or eleven yard-lands in 
their single occupation. 

It is also likely that originally each right of common represen¬ 
ted a homestead in the “ town” of Aston or Coat, and that the 
right was, in fact, appendant to the homestead. This has how¬ 
ever ceased to be the case : for the rights of common are ap¬ 
pendant to the person and not the residence of the occupier, 
and are bought and sold as separate property, by which means 
it results that persons, resident at Bampton, or even at a 
greater distance, have rights on Aston and Coat Common. 

But the proprietor of a yard-land in Aston and Coat is 
by no means in the same independent position, as the own¬ 
er of 30 acres of enclosed and private property. The 30 acres, 
which form his yard-land, are divided into three parts. In the 
first place he has about 20 acres of arable land in the Common 
Field, from which he obtains wheat, beans, and other similar 
crops; in the next place he has about 4 or 5 acres in the Com¬ 
mon Meadow, which he makes into hay for feeding his ca'Ale in 


HISTORY OF BAMPTON. 77 

winter; and, lastly, on the Common Pasture he has the right 
of feeding either 8 cows or 4 horses, at discretion, besides feeding 
16 sheep on that portion of the Common Pasture which is set 
apart for them only. 

The principle, upon which this three-fold division of the 
land was founded, is evidently one of great utility in an early 
state of farming ; and I have no doubt that at first every per¬ 
son enjoying a right of common occupied his ratable portion of 
all the.three kinds of common. But at present there are some 
tenants who have rights in the Common Pield, and not in the 
Common pasture; and, vice versa, several occupiers have the 
right of pasturing a certain number of sheep or cow s, w’ho do 
not possess any portion of arable land in the Common Pield. 

I have been informed that the total number of persons hold¬ 
ing rights of common, of every kind, in Aston and Coat, is be¬ 
tween one and two hundred. 

As so large a proprietary w^ould be sure to disagree, if they 
all shared in the government of the community to which they 
belong, they have, from time immemorial, established among 
themselves a sort of balanced government, which imitates the 
British constitution, consisting of the lord of the Manor, who is 
the king, 4 “ grass-stewards” who are a sort of House of Lords, 
and 16 men called the “Sixteens,” * who may fairly be liken¬ 
ed to the British House of Commons. But the similarity is not 
perfect in all its parts : for the Grass-Stewards are generally the 
four most influential persons of the “ Sixteens,” and so — en¬ 
joying a privilege, which Lord Brougham would envy, if he 
knew of its existence—they may be said to have a seat in eith¬ 
er House of Parliament. The duties of the grass-stewards are 
to see that the mounds and fences are in good repair, and to se- 


* A Classical epithet, reminding us 
“Ten" at Venice, &c., &c. 


of the “ Decemviri" at Rome, the council of 







78 


HISTORY OF BAMPTON. 


care the meadow from the incarsion of cattle : 'the Sixteens are 
bound to provide at their joint expence four two-year-old bulls 
every season to run on the Common Pasture. At the end of 
the season they sell them again for their own benefit, and in 
the meantime have the privilege of claiming a fee of 1 s. 6d. for 
every cow that feeds on the common during that season. The 
bulls also are allowed to feed on the common, free and irres¬ 
pective of the rights of pasture which their owners, the Sixteens, 
may possess. 

The right of pasture in Common begins on the 14th of May 
and ends on the 14th of November. 

The Sixteens and grass-stewards are chosen in turn out of 
these who have rights of common. Pour yard-lands furnish 
one " Sixteen ” every year, and thus in four years, every one of 
the 64 yard-lands has had its turn of sending metpbers to the 
Aston House of Commons. 

The Sixteens used in former times to hold their meetings 
at Aston Cross, but of late years the assembly has been 
adjourned to one of the Public Houses, where no doubt the full 
strong tap of Mine Host's best October is considered far supe¬ 
rior to the possibility of a shower, from which even the sanctity 
of the Cross would not protect them, in the open air. 

It remains to describe the Common Meadow. The principal 
difference between it and the Common Pield, is that in the latter 
every occupant knows his own land, however small may be the 
fraction of a yard-land which he possesses. The whole of the 
Common Pield is divided by land-marks, and each strip of 
ground belongs always to the same farmer, but all the farmers 
adopt, of necessity, the same inode of cultivation, according to 
the four-year course, a fourth part is consequently always fallow, 
unless, as is sometimes done, a portion of it is occasionally plant¬ 
ed with vetches to supply fe<xl for the cattle in winter. 


HISTORY OK BAMPTON. 


70 


In the Common Meadow a more perplexing system prevails, 
and all the science of the village seems to be necessary to ena¬ 
ble the inabitants to understand and maintain the cumbrous 
machinery by which this part of their agricultural proceedings 
is regulated. 

The Common Meadow is laid out by boundary-stones into 
13 large divisions, technically called <( layings-out.” These 
always remain the same, and each laying-out in like manner is 
divided into four pieces, called “ Sets,” .First Set, Second, 
Third, and Fourth Set. Now, as the customs of Aston and 
Coat are based upon the principle of justice and equity between 
all the commoners, and the Common Meadow is not equally 
fertile for grass in every part, it becomes desirable to adopt some 
mode of giving all an equal chance of obtaining the best cuts for 
their cattle. To effect this, recourse is had to the ballot; and 
the following mode is practised. From time immemorial there 
have been sixteen marks established in the village, each of which 
corresponds with four yard-lands and the whole sixteen conse¬ 
quently represent the 64 yard-lands, into which the common is 
divided. A certain number of the tenants, consequently, have 
the same mark, which they always keep, so that every one of 
them knows his own. The use of these marks is to enable the 
tenants every year to draw lots for their portions of the Meadow. 

When the grass is fit to cut, which will be at different times 
in different years according to the season; the Grass-Stew r ards 
and Sixteens summon the tenants to a general meeting, and the 
following ceremony takes place. Four of the tenants come for¬ 
wards, each bearing his mark cut on a piece of wood, as, for 
example, the u frying-pan,” the “ hern's foot,” the “ bow,” the 
“ two strokes to the right and one at top, ” &c. These 
four marks are thrown into a hat, and a boy, having shaken up 

the hat, again draws forth the marks. The first-drawn entitles 

11 


80 


HISTORY OF BAMPTON. 


M 

its owner to have liis portion of the Common Meadow in u Set 
One, ” the second-drawn, in “ Set Two, ” &c. and thus four of 
the tenants having obtained their allotments, four others come 
forwards, and the same process is repeated until all the tenants 
have received their allotments. As the four Sets are always the 
same in all the thirteen layings-out of the Common Meadow, it 
is known before-hand where the good land lies, and it is, I be¬ 
lieve, generally understood that Set-One and Set-Four are in all 
the Layings-out inferior to Sets Two and Three. 

The most singular feature of this very intricate system re¬ 
mains to be told. When the lots are all drawn, each man 
goes, armed with his scythe, and cuts out his mark on the piece 
of ground which belongs to him, and which, in many cases, 
lies in so narrow a strip, that he has not width enough to take 
a full sweep with his scythe, but is obliged to hack down his 
his grass in an inconvenient manner, as he is best able. 

Another extraordinary peculiarity of the system is, that a 
single farmer may have to cut his portion of grass in the Com¬ 
mon Meadow from twenty different places, though the tenants 
frequently accommodate one another by exchanging allotments 
when it is convenient to two parties to do so. 

I conclude this long and tedious description of Aston Com¬ 
mon-Law with some extracts from an old book, partly of vel- 
lume and partly of paper, which contains the proceedings of 
the Sixteens for the last 200 years, and is still preserved 
in the custody of Mr. Richard Townsend, tenant of Cote Farm. 

On the first vellum-leaf. 

Pretium 6s. — This book given March 24th, 1668, by me Thos. Horde 
Esqre, Lord of the manor of Aston Bouges and Coat in the parish of 
Bampton in the county of Oxon. for the benefitt, use and direction of his 
tennants and the Landholders thereof, and for the Sixteens to register 
yearly all their orders made at the Crosse of Aston aforesaid, according 
to their auncient custome and to be kept in safe custody by the Stewards 
pro tempore. 


81 


HISTORY OF BAMPTON. 

No person in Aston so proper to keep this book safe and cleans 
as Richard Alder, and so convenient to wayte on the Sixteens And to 
write down all their orders so plaine and legible as he ; who ought not 
to suffer the book to be taken or put out of his house to any person or 
persons but by the order of the Sixteens, who ought to reward him for 
his care and paynes att the discretion of the said Sixteens, either at 
every meeting att the Cross as they make orders, or every halfe yeare or 
yearly, as they shall thinke fitt. And I trust the Sixteens will meet lov¬ 
ingly and kindly, from time to time, as they are directed by their auncient 
and laudible custome, to the generall satisfaction as nere as possible can 
be endeavoured by them that love and friendship, peace and prosperity 
may continue for many ages to the whole neighbourhood of Aston and 
Coat; Which hath been and is the hearty wish of Their loving Landlord 
and Neighbour, Tlio : Horde Coat House, 3 April, 1708. 

On the second leaf of the book is the following entry : 

If any person desires to read what orders have bin made or to satisfie 
himself concerning the land or about any other matter that is mended 
or wrott down in his book, he may come to the Steward’s House who 
keeps the book and in the presence of the said steward may peruse it 
and read therein when he pleases, but the Steward is not to carry or 
send the book up and down att the towne’s pleasure, but to the lord only 
to set downe orders made att the Crosse in the presence of the stewards 
or one of them. 

If it fall out that all the Sixteens sette not their hands to orders made 
at the Crosse, then the Steward is to carry the book to those that have 
not subscribed and to noe other, unlesse the whole towne att any time 
have occasion to subscribe to any agreement made for the benifit of the 
towne upon such generall agreement then the Stewards or Steward shall 
carry the book to those persons who ought to subscribe and have not if 
the Steward doth otherwise then is hereby directed he shall forfeit two 
shillings to be given to the poore of the towne of Aston and Coat, att 
the discretion of the Lord for the time being, and to be impounded for 
by the Sixteens the Steward or Stewards that keepeth the book shall 
promise on the 24th of March yearly (being the Lady Eve) att the 
Crosse before the Sixteens for the payment of the two shillings as 
above-mentioned if they offend herein being proved by their own con¬ 
fession or wittness of credit that is a reputed honest person. 

That the Stewards doe faierly transcribe their orders into this book, 
and, att the Sixteens’ next meeting att the Crosse, to bring the book for 
them to subscribe to the orders againe that they may continue upon 
recorde, unlesse the Stewards will carry the book to the Sixteens. 

That the Stewards suffer not any person to subscribe or write any 
matter in this book, nor the Stewards themselves, but what is don att 
the Crosse, by the consent of the Lord and the Sixteens, unlesse the 
Lord have a desire to send att any time for the book to insert some 
thing for the benefit of the towne. 

As the matters in this book are divided into so many sheets for the 
conteineing thereof, this book may serve to register all the affairs of the 
towne for twenty years. 

That the Stewards buy a stick or black-lead pencill and a ruler to 


82 


HISTORY OF BAMPTON. 


draw and rule the lin es in the book, as ’tis now done that all matters 
may be wrott in order fairely and handsomely for the better and easier 
understanding of the neighbors that shall peruse the book. 

Also put a clean sheet of brown paper between the fresh written leaves 
that they blott not. 

That when this book is finished and noe blank paper left, yet it 
ought to be carefully kept and preserved in the steward’s or some other’s 
custody but rather delivered up to the Lord then in being, that the in¬ 
habitants may know what have bin aunciently acted for the good of the 
towne and a guide for the succeeding Sixteens. 

Richard Bersall, due to me 

1704 seventeen and 4 pence. 17s. 4d. 

On the third leaf: 

That noe officer whatever be pd lor writing any thing for the towne 
but what the law gives them or the Sixteens for the former all the kings’s 
officers must doe their duty upon their owne expenses unlesse the Law 
have appointed them some recompense for the latter the Sixteens have 
given an office out of which they are to pay their dark or scrivener, 
if they cannot be theire own scrivener. 

§ 21. Cote. 

At the distance of about half a mile eastward from Aston is 
the little hamlet of Cote, consisting of about 30 houses. It is 
iu general still more humble and unpretending in its character 
than Aston ; but it contains two objects of interest which merit 
the attention of the reader, — Cote Chapel and Cote House. 

§ 22. Cote chapel. 

This chapel is one of the most respectable establishments, 
founded for the use of Dissenters, iu the whole kingdom. 

It was built for the denomination of dissenters called Bap¬ 
tists, and is endowed with a house for the minister,_a respec¬ 
table building, situated, as was before observed, at Aston_ 

and an annual stipend. 

The congregation of this chapel came originally from Long- 
worth, where they had a burial-ground, w'hicli, how'ever, they 
did not long possess; for, owing to the neglect of the Trus¬ 
tees, it reverted to the lord of the manor. 


HISTORY OF BAMPTON. 


83 


The following curious entry is found in the “ Church-book ” 
of the Society at Longworth upon the opening of the burial- 
ground. 

The Lord, who was pleased in these last days to gather his people out 
from amongst the people of this world, hath been pleased, according to 
his abundant goodness, to gather together some of his poor children, 
and to plant them in and about Longworth, where we have enjoyed 
many mercies and privileges, which he hath bestowed upon his people ; 
and amongst the many mercies this is not the least, that in this church 
he hath given some increase in number of us, his witnesses, against 
those vain wayes of this world which they receive by tradition from their 
fathers ; as chiefly baptizing of infants (as they call it), and touching 
their faith and persuasions about the place where they bury their dead, 
which two things, (as also many others) the Lord hath separated us 
from them in. 

And taking these things into consideration, we, who were led by that 
gude word of Prophecy, as in baptism, so also in burying our dead in a 
place apart from the people of this world, hereupon our biiths and our 
burials were neither of them registered by the Parish Register, so we 
judged it expedient to take care in this matter, whereupon we appoin¬ 
ted and prepared this book, wherein we have inserted, on one side births, 
and the other burials. 

The earliest entry in this book is in 1647 ; and, like the 
Society of Friends, commonly called Quakers, they avoided us¬ 
ing the names of the days of the week and the month : thus; 

John Williams was buried on the 8th of the 4th month, 1675. 

The meeting-house was first registered, as the law required, 
in the month of September, 1703, the ground having been 
given by Mr. John Williams of Aston. 

The ministers of this chapel since its foundation have been 
the following : 

1. Rev. Joseph Collet,* from July, 1703 to 1741. 

2. Rev. Joseph Stenett, Brother of the Rev. Samuel Sten- 
nett, D. D. from March 17, 1742 to 1772. 

3. Rev. Tho. Dunscombe, M. A., from June, 1772 tol798.t 


* Author of a treatise on Divine Providence, and son of Joseph Collett, gentleman’ 
of Cote, who lived in a house on the site of the present “ Pond-House,” which de¬ 
scended to Mr. John Williams, late of Shifford, who married his grand-daughter. 

t At this time the number of members who received the Communion in this 
chapel is registered 102. 



84 


HISTORY OF BAMPTON. 


4. Rev. Joseph Stennett, M. A. (son of Dr. Stennett.) 

5. Rev. James Bicheno, J M. A. 

6. Rev. Richard Pryce. 

7. Rev. Benjamin Wheeler, appointed in 1840. 

8. Rev. J. Jackson, the present minister, appointed in 1848. 
The incumbent of this chapel serves also at a small meeting¬ 
house in Barnpton, in Aston School-room and elsewhere, on 
particular occasions. 


§ 23. Cote House, 

This interesting mansion was probably built in the reign of 
Elizabeth or James I. It has two projecting wings w ith gabled 
roofs, like nearly all the houses erected at the same period, 
but the wings are of unequal height, which somewhat detracts 
from the grandeur of its appearance. The centre of the buil¬ 
ding forms a long hall, into winch the door, which is in the 
middle of the principal front, opens without screen or vesti¬ 
bule. At the upper end of the hall is the drawing room, a 
w'ainscotted appartment, beyond winch is an ancient staircase of 
heavy oak leading to the state bed-room, which u r as once orna¬ 
mented with oak carving, but this has lately been removed by 
the present owner, H. Hippisley, esq. to embellislr his mansion 
at Lambourn Place, an ancient residence, which has lately been 
enlarged in the Elizabethan style of architecture, near Hunger- 
ford. W hen Mr. Skelton wrote his work on the Antiquities of 
Oxfordshire, there were some interesting shields of arms on 
painted glass in one of the principal apartments. “ Amongst 
these,” says Mr. Skelton, “ I noticed the arms of Blount, with 
others of families of consequence, who had probably resided or 


l Author of somo works on Prophecy. 







SHEFFORD 













HISTORY OF BAMPTON. 


So 


been entertained here, in former times” These coats of arms, 
twenty-four in number, are now at Lambourn-PJace, where they 
form conspicuous ornaments in the large window on the stair¬ 
case and in the windows which surround the inner court of that 
beautiful mansion. The arms are all of the sixteenth century, 
and many of them are surrounded by the garter, bearing the 
motto Honi soit qui mal y pense. Three of them bear the 
names of Blunte, Lee and Ilanbury, and one of them has the 
Greek motto heos haimatos autipelargon ,—a mistake, I suppose, 
of some unlearned painter for antipalaion ,— “ struggling even 
to blood.” 

There are also other objects of iuterest which have been re¬ 
moved from Cote House to Lambourn-Place : amongst others 
I noticed tw-o chairs, as old as the reign of King Charles, one 
of them ornamented with a ducal coronet. 

The screen, also, which now stands at the extremity of the 
hall at Lambourn-Place, is a most beautiful relic of the Eliza¬ 
bethan style, and has been introduced into its present position 
with no greater alteration than the removal of one or tw r o rows 
of pannels, by which its breadth has been adjusted to the di¬ 
mensions of the apartment in which it stands. 

But the spolia opima, in the opinion of some persons, from 
Cote House, are five paintings, the merit of which must be 
evident to the most negligent and most inexperienced beholder. 
These are, 1. A portrait of Sir Tlios. Horde, painted by Sir 
Godfrey Kneller, 2. A female, by the same artist, 3. The last 
Mr. Horde, by Beach. 4. Miss Horde, daughter of the last 
Mr. Horde, and who bequeathed the Cote estate to the Bev. Id. 
Hippisley, father of H. Hippisley esq. the present owner—this 
painting is by Gainsborough or Beach, probably the latter, 5. 
A boy, by Sir Peter Lilly. 


36 


HISTORY OF BAMPTON. 


§ 24. SlIIFFORD. 

Two miles from Aston and one mile from Cote House is 
Shifford, formerly, as it is said, a place of much consequence; 
but we find no confirmation of this in ancient records. The 
account which will further on be laid before the reader of its 
having been the place where Alfred once held a parliament, 
furnishes no ground for supposing that it was more than 
a village or small town; for in those turbulent times, a parlia¬ 
ment was as rude a body of men as can well be conceived, 
and their parliament-house was more likely to be a wild heath 
than a Westminster Hall. Still there is no doubt that Shif- 
f'ord w : as once a more important place than it is now, and 
perhaps contained several houses and streets. At present 
there is nothing but its solitary little church,* * * § 4 or 5 cottages, 
and Shifford farm-house, the property of the Harcourt family, 
and the residence of their tenant, Mr. Peter Williams, a gen¬ 
tleman known far and near for his hospitality and honest inde¬ 
pendence of character, to which the writer of these pages is 
happy to be able to pay this humble tribute. 

Nearly the whole of Shifford district—or parish, as it is 
sometimes § called — consists of common fields, almost 
wdiolly destitute of timber, and lying close upon the river which 
for many weeks in every year overflows its banks and deluges a 
large quantity of land. Purtlier information concerning Shif¬ 
ford, its ancient history, its manor and other particulars, will 
be given hereafter in the Chronological arrangement of past 
events which have happened in this parish. 

* The old church of Shifford, which was very ancient, fell down in the year 1772 : 

that which now occupies its place, is a small building of the most plain, unadorned cha¬ 
racter. It was not completed till some years after, when the Rev. Samuel Johnson, one 

of the vicars of Bampton, officiated in it. 

§ It has been suggested to me, since the publication of the first edition of this work, 
that Shifford was perhaps originally a separate parish and that its connection with Bamp¬ 
ton has merged its former independence. If so, the union of the two parishes would more 
correctly be expressed “ Bampton cum Shifford.” 




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HISTORY OF BAMPTON. 


87 


§ 25. Chimney. 

Chimney consists of two farms only, the property of E. M. 
Atkins esq., of Kingston-Lyle in the county of Berks. It was 
once the seat of the Yeseys, one of whom founded the grammar- 
school. There were formerly a fine manor-house and chapel at 
Chimney, but it is now some years since they have been pulled 
down and the materials removed. There is nothing remaining, 
of interest, in the place; which, indeed, in the winter-season 
can only be approached, owing to the inundation from the 
river, by means of a large farm-horse, kept by Mr. Pinnock, 
the occupier of one of the farms, for the accommodation of his 
friends and visitors. 


§ 26. Bkighthampton. 

This is a small dependency of Bampton situated on the 
extreme verge of the parish, and forming a continuous street 
with the houses in the neighbouring parish of Stanlake. It 
contains no interesting object, of any kind. 


§ 27. Lew. 

The small village of Lew, destined hereafter to become 

a separate parish, is situated about 2 miles on the road to 

Witney, from which it is distant about 3 miles and a half. Its 

pretty church was built by subscription in the year 1842. 

There is, also, a small chapel belonging to the religious 

society of Baptists resident at Witney. This building 

was designed by the pious members of that persuasion, before 

Lew church was thought of, to provide for the spiritual wants 

of the poor inhabitants, who could not attend at the parish- 

' church of Bampton, but, for want of funds or from other 

causes, was not erected until Lew church was finished. 

12 



33 


HISTORY OR BAMPTOK. 


The principal landed proprietors of Lew, are'Thomas Den¬ 
ton, esq., lord of two-thirds of the manor of Bampton, and 
I. Close, esq., of Clapliam. 


§ 28 . Of the public charities of Bampton. 

Few towns of equal size possess so many charitable bequests 
and foundations as Bampton; and, as is generally the case 
with charities, they appear to have been greatly abused, or at all 
events neglected, and not to have been fully applied to the pur¬ 
poses, for which they were intended. But in the present age 
a better spirit is afloat, and it is hoped that all the testamentary 
bequests of pious and charitable individuals, long since decea¬ 
sed, may speedily be placed on such a footing as to be produc¬ 
tive of the most good to the parish for whose use they were 
intended. 

A large number of deeds concerning these charities are pre¬ 
served in the great iron-chest which is kept in the vestry under 
four locks, but, without other means of information, these 
papers are too imperfect to explain satisfactorilv the subjects 
to wdiich they refer. 

It appears that there was formerly a large board suspended 
in the church, on which all or most of the Bampton charities 
were insribed. 

This board has long since disappeared; but fortunately a 
copy of it is found in the Bawlinson manuscript, already so 
often quoted. The account of it given in that book is as 
follows. 

“On the north wall of the Church is a large wooden tablet, and on 
it are these following benefactors mentioned. 

George Tompson, gent., gave six pounds a year for ever. 

Leonard Willmot, of Clanfield, gen., deceased, gave to the poor of 
Bampton forty shillings a year for ever. 

Doctor _ William Osborn gave one hundred pounds for the use of 
the poor. 

Mr. Robert Vaisey gave two hundred pounds to the use of the School. 


HISTORY OF BAMPTON. 


89 


Mr. Jolin Palmer gave two hundred pounds, one hundred to the use 
of the School, the other to the poor. 

Mr. Henry Coxeter gave ten pounds to the use of the School. 

Mr. Bartholomew Coxeter gave thirty pounds to the us^ of the poor. 

Mr. Robert Vaisey gave thirty pounds to the use of the poore. 

John Tull, baker, gave ten pounds to the use of the poor. 

Thomas Williar, draper, gave ten pounds to the use of the poor. 

John Butt gave ten pounds to the use of the poor. 

Doctor Edward Cotten gave the use of fifty pounds to the use of the 
parish of Bampton, to be disposed of to those that frequent the 
Church and receive the Sacrament. 

Mr. Richard Coxeter gave the use often pounds towards the placing 
out of poor children of Bampton and Weald. 

Toby Sadler, draper, gave fifty pounds to be given in bread to the poor 
of Bampton and Weald. 

Richard Blagrove gave the use of ten pounds to be given in bread to 
the poor of Bampton and Weald. 

Henry Clanfield gave the use of ten pounds to the poor of Bampton 
and Weald. 

Mr. Richard Dew gave to the use of the School fifty pounds. 

Mr. John Palmer gave the use of fifty pounds to the poor of Aston 
and Coat. 

Mr. Robert Dale gave the use of five pounds to the poor of Aston 
and Coat. 

Mr. John Moulden of Coat gave the use of five pounds to the poor of 
Aston and Coat. 

Mr. Thomas Cox of Stanford gave the use of five nobles to the poor 
of Coate. 

Madam Dorothy Loder, formeily wife of Mr. John Hancks of this 
parish, gave £300 to the use of the poor of Bampton and Weald. 

Julian Walter, of Appleton in the county of Berks, gave £18 pei 
annum to be disposed of in bread to the poor of Bampton. 

Thomas Hall and Anne his wife, gave the sum of £5 each to be 
disposed of in bread to widowers and widows of Bampton and 
Weald. 

All good benefactors. 

It appears, from the same Kawlinson MS., that there 
was a similar tablet in Sliifford Church: the extract is as 
follows : 

“ On a velom in a frame fixed to the north of the Church. 

Mr. William Farr gave to the poore of Sliifford five pounds and the 
use of it to be paid them every year upon St. Thomas’s day for ever. 
He departed this life the 30th of November 1691. His text was in 
Revelations the 14th and the 13th verse : “ And I heard a voice from 
Heaven, saying unto me : Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the 
Lord from henceforth, yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from 
their labours and their works do follow them.” 

These lists are, however, of little other use in the present 
day, than as a record of the pious benefactors to whom the pa- 


99 


HISTORY OF BAMPTON. 


/ 


risk is indebted for the above named sums. A great part of 
the money has been invested in land and other securities, so 
that the charities of Bampton, as they are at present, would be 
almost unintelligible even to the donors themselves. 

The list of Bampton charities in their present state, is as 
follows : 

1. The free grammar-school, founded by R. Yeysey. 

2. Thompson's gift. 

3. Wilmot's gift. 

4. Appleton estate, given by Julian Walter. 

5. Shilton estate. 

6. Hoard's gift. 

7. The Church-lands. 

8. Money lent to the Stokenchurch turnpike-trust. 

9. Legacies bequeathed by Mrs Susanna Frederick, Mrs 
Elizabeth Snell, Mrs Mary Frederick, and Mrs Mary 
Crofts. 

10. Carter's legacy. 

11. Upper Moor close and Brookfast Furlong close. 

12. Lower Moor close and Lakc-Reddy close. 

13. National School. 

14. Miss Carr's bequest. 

15. Monk's legacies to the church and poor of Aston. 

16. Fox's gift to the church of Aston. 

17. Miscellaneous—losUlegacies, &c. 

1. Ihe free Grammar-School. — The Free Grammar-School 
was founded, in the year 1670, by Robert Yaisey, or Yesey, 
esq. of Chimney, who left £300 for the instruction of all boys 
living in the parish andMependencies of Bampton, and in the 
small adjoining parish of Yelford. This bequest was augment¬ 
ed to £400 by John Palmer, who, by will dated Oct. 23, 1650, 
gave an additional sum of £100 for the use of the grammar- 
school. See the copy of the board in the church and the Re¬ 
port of the Charity-Commissioners, page 341. The inquisi- 


HISTORY OF BAMPTON. 


91 


tions and oilier papers printed in the Appendix to this volume 
will inform the reader of many particulars concerning this 
foundation, which it is here unnecessary to repeat. 

The Trustees, still alive, according to the last feoffment, 
dated June 21, 1881, are F. Whitaker esq.,Bev.C. L. Kerby, 
vicar of Bampton, Rev. W. J. Walker of Southrop, Mr. Tho. 
Green, Mr. James Ward, Mr. W. Andrews, Mr. William Pryor 
of Aston, Mr. Richard Townsend of Coate, and Mr. J. Bate¬ 
man. Their duty is to take charge of and maintain the free¬ 
hold property which belongs to the foundation, consisting of 
the School-house, a picturesque building situated near the 
church, a small cottage adjoining, and three fields situated near 
FishePs bridge. 

The income derived from the rents, aomunts to about £28 
per annum, not including the School-house. Other monies 
will probably be attached to the School, when certain arrange¬ 
ments in the court of Chancery shall be brought to completion. 
The master is appointed by the three vicars of Bampton, and 
the heir of the founder, and in case of an equality of votes be¬ 
tween the four, then the decision shall remain on that side to 
which the heir of the founder shall have given his vote. 

The present master is the Rev. H. S. Templar but there 
are no pupils, and it is a subject of regret to the inhabitants that 
this foundation is without any benefit whatever to the town. 
It appears, however, that this evil is not so irremediable as in 
the case of many other grammar-Schools, for the foundation is 
unfettered by any conditions which might perpetuate a course 
of study not adapted to the wants of the people. The original 
statutes seem now to be lost, but they were apparently extant 
at the time when the Rawlinson MS. was written: for I find 
therein the following extract: 

“ School-master Leonard Fell, a poor child, of Queen’s College in 
Oxford, who according to the statutes ought not to be a beneficed 
person.” 


92 


HISTORY OF BAMPTON. 


2. Thomson's gift —Mr. George Thompson, whose tomb is still 
seen on the east side of the South transept—a recumbent figure 
under a pediment supported by two fluted columns. — by his 
last will, dated June 6, 1st James I, A. D. 1003, left a 
rent-charge of £6 a year issuing out of certain lands situated 
in the parish of Brizenorton, (now given, in sixpences,) to the 
poor of Bampton and Weald. The extract from his will, pre¬ 
served in the great chest, is as follows : 

Item I will and bequeath to the poor people of Bampton, Lew, and 
Weld, Marian Startupp and her heirs, Agnes Startupp the daughter of 
Humphry Startupp and her heirs,, Agnes Startupp the daughter of 
Wm. Startupp and her heirs, Joane Tomson my wife during her natural 
life and Jane Gurlie my sister’s daughter and her heir, ALL that my 
lease of two yard-land, with all the appurtenances thereunto belonging 
with divers other particulars, contained in the same lease, set, lying and 
being in the parish of Brisenorton in the county of Oxon, granted unto 
me and my assigns by Mr. Edward Yate, late of Buckland, for a term 
of 2000 years to the behoof of them, and every of them, as in particu¬ 
lar, and more at large in this my present will, is expressed and set 
down. And for the better performance and more assurance whereof 
my will is that the feoffees of Bampton, Haddon, Aston, Lew, and 
Weald, for the time being, shall have the custody or keeping of the 
said lease in trust, to and for the use of all the parties prenominate, 
that the said lease in no case should he sold, alienated or altered 
from the true meaning of this my will... then gives several parts of the 
premises in the said lease to Marian Startupp, Agnes Startupp, and 
Agnes paying several yearly sums to his executors ; and to Joane his 
wife during her natural life, and Jeane Gurlie and her heirs during the 
term, all other the contents, as houses, lands and enclosures, commons, 
rents, profits, and appurtenances whatsoever, not before given and 
bequeathed in the main lease comprised and contained, they paying 
yearly during the whcle term to the poor people of Bampton, Lew, and 
Weald, six pounds to he given and distributed to them by the discre¬ 
tion of my overseers and the two Churchwardens of Bampton, Haddon, 
Weald, and Lew, for the time being, at two several times of the year, 
viz. Wlnt-sunday, and the feast of St. Thomas the Apostle, by equal 
portions, and makes Joan his wife and Jane Gurlie his executrixes. 
Witnesses Rob. Joy, clerk, Edward Jones, and William Hanks. 

Proved at Oxford, 4th Feb., 1603. * 

3. Wilmothsgift — See Mr. Hudson's account of this bequest, 

printed in the appendix. The abuse, there mentioned, has been 
remedied since his time: the £2 a year are now expended in 
keeping up a stock of blankets, which are lent to the poor du¬ 
ring the winter. 


* Mr. Thompson resided where Kerwood’s yard <once called D’oyle’s yard) now stands. 



HISTORY OF BAMPTON. 


93 


4. Appleton estate , given by Julian Walter. — The Appleton 
estate consists of a house, called the Thames-House, and certain 
lands in the parish of Appleton, containining about 30 acres, 
more or less, bequeathed originally by Julian Walter, who, ha¬ 
ving no children, executed his will on May 1, 1656, by which 
he gave the aforesaid estate to Trustees for 

“ the good and benefit of the poor of the town of Bampton in the 
co. of Oxon, and to the impotent people of the parish of Bampton afore¬ 
said, equally to be divided between them,.which premises so 

devised for and to the use of the poor of the said parish shall every Sun¬ 
day in the year for ever after the Sermons he ended in the said parish* 
church, in the forenoon, be distributed in wheaten bread by the 
churchwardens or overseers of the poor of the parish aforesaid to the 
poor and impotent people inhabiting in the parish, in such sort and 

manner as the bread is given at Appleton.Provided nevertheless 

that, if the said several churchwardens for the time being of the said 
parish, or any of them shall fail at any time hereafter in the due 
execution of this my will, according to the true intent and meaning 

hereof, that then the use of the poor of the parish to cease,.hut it shall 

or may be lawful for the Justices of Peace of the Sessions to be holden 
for the county of Oxon and Berks, to take the profits, to them so 
devised for the use of the said poor, and employ the same to the 
enlargement of the causeway at New-Bridge in length, and for the 
maintainance of it for ever, &c.” 

In the Report of the Commissioners Julian Walter is des¬ 
cribed as a woman, and no papers, that have yet fallen in my 
way, afford the least help towards clearing up this very ridi¬ 
culous doubt. 

Within a recent period this property has been vested in trus¬ 
tees by a decree of the commissioners of the Public Charities. 
The last enfeoffment, dated Sep. 25, 1826, vested the trusteeship 
in the hands of Jonathan Arnatt , William Joseph Walker, Fred¬ 
erick Whitaker, Robert Bullen, George Bryan Shingleton, Ber¬ 
nard Green , William Roberts and John Bateman, with the 
proviso that when four trustees should be dead a fresh 
feoffment should be executed. Three of them are already 
deceased. 

The rents amount to £36 a year, received by the churchwar¬ 
dens, who retain 8s. for a dinner, on Holy Thursday, 8s. bread- 





94 


HISTORY OF BAMPTON. 


money (as it is termed) for the parishes ol Lnsham, TV itney and 
Standlake, and £2. 8s. land-tax : the rest is given in bread to the 
poor. After Michaelmas, 1848, the rent will be £42. 

5. Shilton estate .— [Tor an account of this charity see Mr. 
Hudson’s pamphlet, in the appendix.] The last feoffment is 
dated June 13, 1831, and conveys the trust to the Rev. J. R. 
Winstanley , I). I)., Eev. C. L. Kerby, James Ward, Frederick 
Whitaker, Eev. W. J. Walker, of Southrop in the co. of Glou¬ 
cester, Jonathan Arnat, Tho. Green, Wm. Andrews, Wm. Pryor, 
Wm. Sparrowhawhy and Eichard Townsend, on trust to let the 
lands at the best annual rent, the rent thereof to 

“ be forthwith disposed of and applied to and for the placing out 
and binding of such and so many poor children yearly to some 
good trades in London or the suburbs thereof and not elsewhere, as 
the said Tho. Burrow, J. R. Winstanley, and C. L. Kerby, and their 
successors, vicars of Bam. aforesd. for the time being, or the major part 
of them shall from time to time think fit and appoint.” 

The rents now produce £30 per annum, but, when the pre¬ 
sent lease is expired, they will be raised to £40. The Eeport 
of the Charity-commissioners states that this land was purchas¬ 
ed with the bequests of Dorothy Lodcr, who, by will dated 
March 24, 1701, gave £300, Dr. Cotton, who gave £50, and 
Eichard Coxeter, who by will dated Nov. 8, 1681, bequeathed 
£40 ; all these sums to be vested in land, and the proceeds to 
be employed in apprenticing children of Bampton to various 
trades; but of late years a large portion of the rents has been 
used to pay the salaries of the Master and Mistress to the Na¬ 
tional School. [See appendix, No. XIX. 

Q>.-Hoard's gift .— This charity will be best understood by the 
perusal of the following printed paper, formerly in circulation. 

“An Abstract of the gifts of Thomas Horde Esq. for the benefit 
of liis Neighbours in Aston and Coate, in the County of Oxford. 

JSL B. The Trustees are to deduct all their charges out of the rents of 
the Lands charged. 

Mr. Horde, by deed dated the sixth day of August in the year 
1709, did give certain Lands in Aston and Coate to Trustees, in trust 


HISTORY OF BAMPTON. 


95 


to raise the yearly sum of Forty Pounds for ever, free from taxes, where¬ 
of the yearly sum of Twenty-foUr pounds is to be disposed for the 
benefit of the poor Prisoners in the Castle in Oxford, in such manner 
as in the same deed is expressed, and the remaining Sixteen Pounds 
per annum is to be bestowed in the manner following, Viz : The 
Churchwardens and Overseers of the poor of Aston and Coate are, with 
Ten Pounds thereof, to provide yearly ten woollen coats, and ten pair 
of Stockings for Men, and ten coarse woollen waistcoats, and ten can¬ 
vas shifts and ten pair of stockings for Women, and to deliver them to 
the Men and Women upon the feast of Saint Michael the Arch-angel in 
every year.—The Men and Women are to inhabit within the Villages 
of Aston and Coate, and are to be elected by the Lord of tbe manor of 
Aston and the sixteen persons commonly called the sixteens or the 
major part of them. 

The Churchwardens and Overseers of the Poor, upon the feast of St. 
Michael in every year, are to give an account to the Lord of the manor 
how they have disposed of the Ten Pounds that year, and what remains 
of it is to be distributed, by the same Churchwardens and Overseers, 
amongst the poor men and women who shall receive the clothes that 
year. 

The remaining Six Pounds per annum is to be paid yearly, by 
the Churchwardens and Overseers of the Poor, to some man or woman, 
inhabiting in Aston, being of a sober life, to be named by the Lord of 
the manor and the sixteens, or the major part of them ; who, for that 
money is to teach twenty such poor children, inhabiting in Aston and 
Coate, to be elected by the Lord of the manor and the sixteens or 
the major part of them, to read English until they can perfectly 
read the Bible; —But if the Master or Mistress shall teach but fifteen 
such children, then he or she shall receive but Five Pounds per annum ; 
and if but ten such children, then but Four Pounds per annum, and if 
but five such children, then but Three Pounds per annum. And the 
residue of the said yearly sum, in every such year, is to be distributed 
amongst such poor Widows in Aston and Coate, as the Lord of the ma¬ 
nor and the sixteens or the major part of them shall appoint. If no man 
or woman, capable to teach English, shall inhabit in Aston, then any 
man or woman, inhabiting in Coate, is to be elected in the manner and 
for the purpose aforesaid. 

All the children are to be taught the Church Catechism, and shall, in 
the hearing of the Master or Mistress, pray every morning at their 
coming to school, and every evening at their going from thence ; and 
shall be chastised for swearing, lying, or other misbehaviour. 

The Lord of the manor, and the Minister of Shifford, and the church¬ 
wardens and Overseers of the Poor of Aston and Coate or the majoi 
part of them (as often as they please) are to examine the behaviour of 
the Master or Mistress, and to displace him or her for such cause as they 
shall judge reasonable, and to elect another in the room of the person 
so displaced. 

Abstracts are to be printed of these Trusts, for the use of the Trus¬ 
tees and others—one of them is to remain in Shifford church and ano¬ 
ther with the Lord of the manor—And as often as seven of the True- 

13 


history of bampTon. 


&6 

tees die, the survivors are to renew the trust, and make up twelve 
Trustees, of whom the President of Trinity College, the Recorder of 
Oxford, and the owner of Mr. Horde’s mansion-house in Coate for the 
time being, are always to be three. 

Mr. Horde’s Heir-at-Law for the time being is to have the overplus 
of the rent, which shall remain more than Forty Pounds per annum, 
and if the rents fall short and will not yield that sum, then other lands 
of Mr. Horde’s in Eaton Hastings in the County of Berks are charged to 
make up the deficiency, and while Mr. Horde’s heirs duly pay the year- 
ly sum, they are to have the possession of the lands charged with it. 

The names of the trustees —Dr. Dobson, of Inn. Coll. Oxf. Dr. 
Bratlnvait, Warden of New College. Dr. Edwards, Principal of Jesus 
College. Dr. Paynter Rector of Exeter College. Dr. Dunstar, 
Warden of Wadham college. Mr Allen Hord. William Wright, 
esq. Recorder of Oxford. Jonathan Castleman, esq. Alderman White. 
Alderman Pinnel. Mr. Mathew Pinnel. Bampton, Oxon. printed by W. 
Holloway, MDCCCXI1I. 

7. Church-lands, Under this name are included certain 
fields, which belong to the parish, and the rents of which are 
received by the church-wardens and help to pay the expenses 
of the church, thereby rendering the church-rates so much 
lighter upon the inhabitants. The fields are four in number : 
One at Lew containing about 3 acres, at present let to Mr. 
Jeeves, — One in Clanfield laue, containing 4a. lr. 37p. let 
to Mr. Perkins —Another in Claufield lane, containing 3r. 7p. 
let to Mrs. Clare of Clanfield— One near the road to Tadpole, 
containing la. 2r. 36p. aud let to Mr. Pisher. 

The rents of these fields at present amount to £24. 15s. Od. 
There is no trust for three of them ; but for the first the last 
feoffment was made by Mr. J. Banting, the only surviving 
trustee, June 21, 1831, to eight of the inhabitants, on condi¬ 
tions similar to those before mentioned. 

A paper containing an account of the Bampton charities, 
and printed by Bailey, 116 Chancery Lane, some years ago, 
eays that the house standing in the midst of the Lew close, 
some land in the Common-field and five cow-commons; besides 
four houses, and an acre of land in Weald, also formed part of 
the church-lands. I have heard it hinted that certain acres of 


HISTORY OF BAMPTON. 


97 


land awarded in lieu of the cow-commons and land in the com¬ 
mon, might still be recovered for the use of the parish. 

8. Money lent to the Stokenchurch turnpike-trust. — About 
thirty years ago, large subscriptions were collected by the Rev. 
Dr. Richards one of the vicars of Bampton, amounting finally, 
with other contributions, to £1300. This sum has been since 
lent to the trustees of the Stokenchurch turnpike-road : the 
vicars conjointly with the two churchwardens are trustees for the 
money. The interest of £600 at 4 per cent, viz. £24 a year, 
is paid to the organist: £20 is devoted to the use of the National 
School of Bampton, and £8 is given to the poor in bed-linen. 

9. Legacies bequeathed by Mrs. Susanna Frederick , fyc. 
— Mrs. Susanna Frederick, by her last will, dated April 29, 
1789, bequeathed the interest of £200 stock in the South-sea 
annuities [afterwards, by codicil, dated Nov. 9, 1793, increa¬ 
sed to £300] for the use of the Sunday-schools. Her executor 
was the late Edward Whitaker esquire. 

Mrs. Elizabeth Snell, by her last will, dated June 29, 1787, 
left the sum of £200 in the hands of Edward Whitaker, Wm 
Roberts, and the Rev. Eras. Smith as trustees. This monev w r as 
afterwards placed out in purchasing £268, 3 per cent consols. 

Also the same Mrs Elizabeth Snell, and Mrs. Susanna Frede¬ 
rick, in conjunction with Mrs. Mary Frederick, in the year 
1784, purchased £400 Stock in the 4 per cent Bank Annui¬ 
ties, and vested it in the names of William Hawkins, John 
Mander, William Roberts and Edward Whitaker, for the use 
of the Master of the Grammar-School, on condition that he 
should teach Reading, Writing, English and Arithmetic to all 
such boys, not exceeding the number of 10, as should for that 
purpose be nominated and appointed, after the decease of the 
said donors, by the said Trustees and their successors &c. In 
1829 the amount of Stock was £418. 17s. 6d. 

Mrs. Marv Crofts, bv will dated on or about March 4,1717, 


98 


HISTORY OF BAMPTON. 


left £100 to be laid out in land, and the interest to be applied to 
the use of the Master of the Free School, for instructing 12 poor 
boys and girls of the town of Baraptou in the English tongue, 
until they shall be able to read well in the Bible; but, if the 
School-master refuses or neglects to do so, then the profits 
shall be applied to the use of such Schoolmaster or 
Schoolmistress as by the appointment of her executor John 
Erederick, and his heirs, should yearly teach the said children 
in the manner aforesaid. The value of this Stock, in 1829, 
was £135. 7s. 3d. 

Concerning all these gifts there is a deed of declaration, dated 
Dec. 31, 1792, setting forth the objects as aforesaid. The 
whole of this money, amounting to several hundred pounds, is 
still lying in that secure treasure-house, the Court of Chancery ! 

10. Carter’s Legacy. — Joseph Carter, mariner, of Bristol, 
by his last will, dated Aug. 6, 1768, and proved in London, 
July 8, 1769, bequeathed, amongst other legacies, £50 

“ to the Minister and Churchwardens for the time being of the said 
parish of Bampton in the county of Oxford, to be by them placed out 
at interest, and the interest thereof annually divided amongst the poor 
of the parish of Bampton aforesaid, not receiving parish-pay.” 

This legacy of £50 has, of late years, been reduced to less than 
half of its original amount; for, having been deposited in the 
care of the late Mr. Burrow, one of the vicars of Bampton, it 
remained in his hands until his death, when it appeared that 
the affairs of the deceased were in a state of insolvency, and only 
about £20 were recovered for the parish, amounting in 1844, 
with interest, to £30. 3s. 6d., and lying in the charge of the Lev. 
D. Adams, one of the present vicars of Bampton. 

11. Upper Moor close and Brookfast Furlong close. See Mr. 
Hudson's pamphlet for an account of these lands, which were 
purchased out of the following legacies, £200 given by John 
Holloway, 100 pounds by Dr. W. Osborne, 50 pounds by 
Rev. Edw. Cotton, 5 pounds by Rob. Geeves, 10 pounds by 







’tf “^"V—L^a 




• ■ : ! 


wmm 

im 


W^s£ &;u:m 

80 g 8 SyO r - ^ 




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f,l ; 












HISTORY OF BAM I TON. 


99 


Ann Coxeter, 50 pounds by Tobias Sadler, 10 pounds by Rich¬ 
ard and Ann Blagrave, 5 pounds by Robert Cripps, 10 pounds 
by Thomas and Ann Hall, and 60 pounds the sum total of seve¬ 
ral other small donations. 

They produce at present 10 pounds 19s. half-yearly : of 
which 2 pounds 14s. 9d. is added to a fund, which accumulates 
until there is enough to pay a fee for apprentising some poor 
boy or girl: 6 pounds 16s. 10 pence half-penny is given to the 
churchwardens to increase the bread-fund, and 1 pound 7s. 4 
pence half-penny is distributed half-yearly in half-crowns. After 
Lady-dav the rents will be 60 pounds a year. 

12. Lower Moor close and lalce-Lteddy close .—It appears 
that the latter of these fields, about two acres, was sold some years 
ago by the authority of the commissioners when the Inclosure 
took place. The Lower moor close, about 9 acres aud a half, is 
now rented by Mr. Bateman and produces 15 pounds per an¬ 
num, of which 3 pounds 4s. is added to the bread-fund : the 
rest, minus land-tax, is given to the vicars' fund for supplying 
the poor with coal during the winter. After Lady-day, 1849, 
the rent will be raised to 20 pounds per annum. The fields 
were purchased with the legacies of John Palmer, Robert Yeysey, 
John Tull, John Butt, Henry Clanfield, and others. 

13. National School .—There appear to be no trustees of this 
institution. There is a large building near the centre of the 
town, consisting of an upper room occupied by the girls, and a 
lower room, by the boys. The master receives 20 pounds a 
year : the mistress 15 pounds a year : a miserable pittance, when 
we consider the importance of their duties : they receive also 
one penny a week from each pupil. The salaries are paid out 
of the following sources : 30 pounds a year the rent of the Shil¬ 
ton estate, 20 pounds interest of money lent to the Stokenchurch 
turn-pike trust, and 1 pound 10s. paid by Mr. Waite of Aston, 
the rent of a small piece of land in Shilton meadow, appurtenant 



> 


100 


HISTORY OF BAMPTON. 


to the Shilton estate, but let to him in a separate occupation. 

14. Miss Carr’s bequest .'—Miss Carr, organist of Bampton 
church, by her will, dated Aug. 16, 1841, bequeathed 100 
pounds to her successor. As the words of the will were not 
thought sufficiently explicit, Miss A. Whitaker, who succeeded 
Miss Carr in the office of organist, by a deed of declaration, da¬ 
ted April 30, 1845, vested the trusteeship of the 100 pounds 
minus 10 pounds legacy-duty, in Fred. Whitaker esq.. Rev. D. 
Adams, Rev. R. Barnes, and A. Close esq., the interest to be 
paid to the organist of Bampton church for ever. 

15. Monk’s legacies &c. — Mr. William Aonk, of Aston, 
by his will dated Jan. 7, 1848, directs that his trustees, who 
are also his executors, viz. Mr. Richard Townsend, of Cote 
House in the parish of Bampton, yeoman, and Mr. David 
Townsend of Aston, yeoman; after paying certain legacies out 
of his residuary estate, shall also, from the same source. 

Place out £50 at interest, free of legacy duty, and with such interest 
and any part of the principal that may be necessary purchase four and a 
half tons of coal every year (till the whole be spent) for the use of the 
most deserving poor of Aston and Coate aforesaid, to be distributed 
amongst them the day before New Christmas in every year, and then 
to place out £30 at interest, free of legacy-duty, and with such interest, 
and any part of the principal, to pay 2s. 6d. a-piece to every poor 
widow of Aston and Coate the day before New Christmas in every year 
till the whole be exhausted.” 

Then follow other legacies, after which the testator directs 
that his said trustees shall 

Stand possessed of the clear residue, Upon trust to place the same 
out at interest on good and valid security, and expend the same, both 
principal and interest, one half tow ards defraying the expen.-e of erec¬ 
ting a spire or tower to the church lately built at Aston aforesaid, and 
the residue towards buying and putting up bells in the same or other¬ 
wise improving the said church or its appurtenances: Provided, 
nevertheless that, if in the course of ten years from my death a suf¬ 
ficient sum cannot be obtained, by subscription or otherwise, to erect 
such tower or spire, then upon trust to lay out the whole in furnishing 
bells for the said church or otherwise improving or embellishing the 
same or the things appertaining thereto. 

The intentions of the deceased, as expressed in his will, are 
however very likely to be frustrated, for it appears, by the 


HISTORY OF BAMPTON. 


101 


statement of the executors that Mr. Monk had over-estimated 
his property, and that there will be little or no money remain- 

ing for the above-named purposes, after other legacies have 
been paid. 

16. Fox's gifts &c.—Mr. Thomas Fox, of Aston, yeoman, by 
deed dated May 25,1839, and duly inrolled in Chancery, gave 
a yearly charge of £4, proceeding out of a farm-house or home¬ 
stead &c. at Aston, formerly in his own occupation, towards 
the repair and maintamance of Aston church for ever. 

Also the same Mr. Thos Fox, by his last will, dated March 
10, 1845, after other bequests, &c. directs that £20 be paid 
out of the sale of a close of land called Woodleys at Lew, 
which close is not to be sold until after the death of Mrs. Sarah 
Baston who is to have the rents for her life, and the said £20 
is then to be spent by the trustees of the said will, namely James 
.hose and Edward Jeeves, in buying fuel for the poor of Aston 
and Cote in the next winter-season after her death. He also 
confirms the charge of £4 a year, formerly made by deed in- 
rolled, for the repairs of the church of Aston. 

17. Miscellaneous, lost legacies, 8fc .—Such are the following. 

The Workhouse, and the land on which it stood, formerly the 

property of the parish, were sold in 1840, and the proceeds paid 
over towards the expense of building the Witney Union. 

Mr. E. Church's legacy, called the Widows' estate by 
Mr. Hudson, seems never to have become the property of the 
parish. 

Mrs. Leverett'sy and Mrs. Susanna Frederic's second legacy of 
money lent to Mrs. Leybourne, and the latter lady's bequest of 
one guinea for a sermon. I have not been able to procure any 
information concerning these bequests beyond that which is to 
be found in Mr. Hudson's pamphlet. 

Mrs. Dewds legacy of £ 200. This money, bequeathed by 
Mrs. Deweby will dated Sept. 24, 1763, having been for some 


102 


HISTORY OF BAMPTON. 


years employed, according to the will of the donor, was eventu¬ 
ally lent, with the other monies, altogether £1300, to the Sto- 
ken-clmrch turnpike trust. 

Lost charities of Aston and Coate .— 

In the Sixteens' book, hereafter to be described, and pre¬ 
served at Cote House, page 8, is a list of 

Charitable gifts bestowed on the poor of Aston and Coat, 

BY WIIOME AND WHO ARE NOW ACCOUNTABLE TO PAY IT. 

By will 1665. Mr. John Palmer’s gift of Weald in the co. of Ox- 
on, to the poore of Aston and Coate, the sum of £50, lies in the hands 
of Wm Gardyner of Gyting in the co. of Gloucester, Esq. who pays 
yearly att Christmas the interest being £3 to the overseers of the poore 
of Aston and Coat but hath given no security yet (as he ought) to the 
overseers of the said poor for the said £50. 

By will 1665. Mr Robert Dale’s gift to Coat in the parish of Bamp¬ 
ton, in the co. of Oxon is the use of £5. 

This sum of £5 lies in the hands of his heire Tho. Dale, who 
by his father’s will is tyed to pay the use thereof yearly to the poore of 
Aston and Coat: the land is to pay it for ever. 

Mr. Coxe’s gift of Stanforde in the Co. of Berks is the use of 33s. 
4d. only to be given yearly to Coate every Christmas by John Moulden. 

Mr Willmot’s gifts is 13s, 4d. to be payd yearly att the Easter to the 
overseers of the poore of Aston and Coat to be pd by Bampton church¬ 
wardens. 

Sir Wm Coventry’s gift to the parish of Bampton by his will. 

counsel.we ought to have.share and when the commission 

of charitable uses is extant.requisite wee make recourse to the 

commissioners, for.right which gift, if notpd, ought to be demand¬ 

ed of the overseers of the poore of Bampton or of those who distribute 
the said charity. 

Thomas Fox his gift to the poore of Aston and Coat is the use of 10s. pd 
yearly by the owner of Hucket Close to the churchwardens or overseers 
of Aston and Coat, given in his will, and the close is tyed to"pay it for 
ever 10s. yearly. 

This last sum was paid by Mr Darby owner of the Huc¬ 
ket Close, until his death in 1810 or 1811, since which time 
it has ceased to be paid. By the returns made to Parliament 
in 1786, the bequest is said to have been made in 1721. 


§ 29. MANORS OF BAMPTON, BAMPTON-DEANERY, 

ASTON, AND SHIFFORD. 

Por the following acount of manors I am indebted to the 







103 


HISTORY OF BAMPTON. 

kindness of Ered. Whitaker, esq. J. P v lord of the manor of 
Bampton deanery, and well acquainted with the whole subject 
of manors, their nature and jurisdiction. 

“ It would be beyond the scope of my design, and at the same time 
uninteresting to the general reader, and to those who from local circum¬ 
stances feel interest in the perusal of these pages, were I to enlarge 
upon the origin and nature of what is called a Hundred or a Manor ; 
but as the town of Bampton is the Hundred-Town, and there will be 
found in the appendix some transcripts from records relating to the 
Hundred and Manor of Bampton, it may, for the better understanding 
them, be useful to furnish the reader with a few general observations on 
the subject. 

The division of the kingdom into counties, hundreds, and tithings, is 
said to have been the work of King Alfred, and his object the preven¬ 
tion of rapine and disorder, which prevailed in his realm. But neither 
the mere separation of a given portion of the kingdom and calling it a 
county, nor of a county and calling it a hundred, nor of a hundred and 
calling it a tithing, would in itself at all advance this object. It was 
by instituting certain courts or tribunals within these particular limits, 
that lie hoped to accomplish his object, and, as has been said of him, to 
bring Justice home to every man’s door ; hence in glancing at the courts 
which from these views of the king sprang up, we shall have to notice 
the very courts, which until lately were held within the hundred and 
manor of Bampton. 

In ancient times it was the duty of the Sheriff of a county to make 
his circuit through every hundred of his county twice in the year, and 
to hold a court for the reformation of common grievances, and for the 
preservation of the peace and good government of the kingdom; at 
which court all the inhabitants above twelve years old (with some ex¬ 
ceptions) were bound to attend, to make inquiries of all offences, and. 
also to give security to the public for their own good behaviour by tak¬ 
ing an oath to be faithful to the king and to observe his laws. And 
they were to incorporate themselves into some free-pledge or tithing, 
which formerly comprised a certain number of families living together 
in the same precinct, the members whereof were every one of them 
mutually bound for each other, and punishable for the default of any 
member of a family in not appearing to answer for himself on any accu • 
sation made against him. 

The jurisdiction of the Sheriff extended to every hundred in the 
county, unless, by prescription or by virtue ot some grant or charter, it 
had come into the hands of some private Lord of the Leet, as the Hun¬ 
dred and Manor of Bampton had by the grant of King Henry the 3rd 
[No. IV in the appendix] come into the hands of William de Valence. 
These grants or charters usually specified the powers with which the 
Lord of the Leet and the Manor was to be invested, and the instruments 
of punishment which he was to keep. Amongst the latter, which he 
would have by law without enumeration, as incident to the situation of 
Lord of the Leet, was a pillory, and a tumbrell or cucking-stool: the 


HISTORY OF BAMPTON. 


101 

former is a well known instrument of punishment; the latter, because 
not so well known, I shall describe out of Jacob’s Law Dictionary. 
“ Cuckingstool is an engine invented for the punishment of scolds and 
unquiet women, by ducking them in the water, called in ancient time 
a ‘ Tumbrel ’ and sometimes a ‘ Trebucliet.’ .. .And it was in use even 
in the time of our Saxons, by whom it was described to be Cathedra in 
qua rixosae mulieres sedentes aquis demergebantur.” A chair or stool 
in which scolding, brawling women, being made to sit, were plunged 
orer head and ears in water. 

An indefinite number of hundreds made up a county, but ten titli- 
ings, hamlets, or townships were said formerly to have made up a Hun¬ 
dred, for every one of which tithingmen were appointed at the court- 
leet of the Hundred ; but since an Act of Parliament passed on the 12th 
of August, 1812, the office of a tithingman is no longer in use, and the 
appointment of constables was taken from the Lords of the Leet, and 
is now made by Justices of the peace at a special Sessions of the peace : 
in the Hundred of Bampton it is made at Burford for the western, and 
at Witney for the eastern division of the Hundred. 

In ancient times there was a ceremony, performed at courls-leet, 
which consisted of what was called view of frank-or free-pledge. Here 
the heads of the different families of the different tithings presented 
themselves to the Lord or Steward of the court, and a certain number 
of neighbours became bound, one for another, to see each man of their 
pledge or tithing forthcoming at all times, or to answer for any trans¬ 
gression done by any one who was gone away; and when any one of¬ 
fended, it was forthwith inquired to what pledge he belonged, and then 
the members of that pledge either produced the offender within 31 days, 
or satisfied for his offence. This mode of making one neighbour in a 
tithing become responsible for another, has, looking at the then state of 
society, been highly commended by law authors, and is said by Sir 
William Blackstone to have been the invention of King Alfred, and not 
merely to have been introduced by him from any other country. 

As to Manors: According to that great lawyer, Sir Edward Coke, in 
his treatise on Manors and Copyholders, the Saxons, if they had not 
Manors in precisely the way in which they existed after the introduc¬ 
tion of the feudal system at the conquest, had yet, says he, demesnes 
and services, the two material causes of a Manor. These demesnes 
they called “ Inlands,” because the Lords kept them in their own hands ; 
the services they called “ Utlands,” because those lands -were in the 
manurance and occupation of certain tenants, who, in consideration of 
the profits arising out of these lands, were bound to perform unto their 
Lords certain duties and services. 

Of these demesne lands, says Sir Edward, one sort was called 
11 Bookland,” because they passed by book, — and they in fact differed 
nothing from our freehold lands at this day, — the other sort w r as 
called “ Folkland ” because they passed by polls, and were claimed 
and challenged by the tenants, not by assurance in writing, but only 
by the mouth of the people, (per vocem populj) ; and they in effect 
differ nothing from copyhold lands at this day. 

But it is from the Normans, says he, that we had the very form of 


HISTORY OF BAMPTON. 


105 


Manors, which is observed amongst us at this present day. They it 
was, who introduced into this country the law of feuds, which, says 
Sir William Blackstone, had its origin from the military policy of the 
northern or Celtic nations, the Goths, the Huns, the Franks, the Van¬ 
dals, and the Lombards, who poured themselves, on the declension of 
the Roman empire, into all the regions of Europe, whose conquering 
general, to secure their new acquisitions, allotted large districts or 
parcels of land to the superior officers of the army; and thus began 
that celebrated honourable species of tenure called Knight-service and 
in law-French Service de Chevalier, to a state of society arising from 
which Mr. Burke alludes in the following well-known celebrated pas¬ 
sage. “But the age of chivalry is gone. That of sophisters, econo¬ 
mists, and calculators has succeeded, and the glory of Europe is extin¬ 
guished for ever. Never, never more, shall we behold that generous 
loyalty to rank and sex, that proud submission, that dignified obedience, 
that subordination of the heart, which kept alive even in servitude 
itself the spirit of an exalted freedom. The unbought grace of life, the 
cheap defence of nations, the nurse of manly sentiment and heroic 
enterprise is gone! It is gone, that sensibility of principle, that 
chastity of honour, which felt a stain like a wound, which inspired 
courage whilst it mitigated ferocity, which ennobled whatever it touched, 
and under which vice itself lost half its evil by losing all its 
grossness.” 

This mixed system of opinion and sentiment, he continues, had its 
origin in the ancient chivalry. And this ancient chivalry was in full 
vogue and vigour at the time of the grant of the manor of Bampton to 
William de Valence. Upon that grant being made, he became imme¬ 
diate tenant or tenant in capite to King Henry the 3rd, and held by 
Kniglit-service or as the French called it Service de Chevalier. 

Jt is universally admitted, I believe, by law-writers that a manor 
could not be created subsequently to the statute of ‘ Quia emptores 
terrarum ’ in the 18th year of the reign of King Edward the 1st, but 
before that statute it was competent to a tenant in capite or even a 
mesne lord to grant a portion of the land of a manor to another person, 
and to make of this portion a new manor to be held of himself. When 
this was done, such a lord was called a mesne-lord, who might hold 
manor-courts in that portion as his immediate lord had done before in 
the manor before such separation. 

Of these manor-courts the court of the freeholder was called the 
Hallmote or Court-baron : that of the copyholders the copyhold or 
customary court of the manor. In the foimer the free suitors were the 
judges : in the lattei the lord or his steward. 

The court-baron was the court where justice and equity were dispen¬ 
sed among the freehold tenants of the manor by the tenants themselves, 
assisted by the lord or his steward, and down to about A. D. 1800, it 
appears by the courtbooks, cognizance was taken of causes under 40 
shillings at courts held in Bampton. The copyhold or customary 
court was the court for the lord’s villains, who heid at the will of the 
lord and were for a long time his vassals, removable whenever he 
should manifest his will; but afterwards, when they had acquired a 


10(5 


HISTORY OF BAMPTON. 


firmer and less slavish possession, they held and now hold at thp will 
of the lord nominally, but really according to the custom of the manor, 
and this custom is the charter of their rights. 

In the parish of Bampton there are no less than four manors 
or reputed manors: 1. The Manor of Bampton. 2. The 
manor of Bampton deanery. 3. The Manor of Aston. 4. 
The Manor of Shifford. The original records, from which 
we obtain nearly all our information on this subject, will be 
found in the Appendix : to which may be added incidental no- 
tices found in various works, and some charters concerning 
Shifford in Dugdale’s Monasticon Anglicanum. 

1. The Manor of Bampton appears to have been in the 
hands of the Conqueror at the time of the Domesday survey : 
it was afterwards granted to the Count of Boulogne, but again 
becoming royal property, w r as granted by Henry III to Will¬ 
iam de Valence and descended to his son Aylmer de Va- 
lence, who dying without issue, it fell to his heir Elizabeth 
daughter of John Comyn of Badenhaugh. This lady mar¬ 
ried Richard Talbot, who received from Edw r ard III a grant 
of free warren, dated April 10, 1341. The family enjoyed 
their estate and privilege of free-warren here, until the 9th 
year of Henry V, when the property passed to the heroic 
Sir John Talbot. From this time to the present it is my 
belief that the manor of Eampton has never wholly been 
out of the hands of the Shrewsbury family, though Mr. Skelton, 
apparently following the account given of it in the Beauties 
of England and Wales, a w'ork of little authority, tells us that 

“ On the 8th July, 1425, Sir William Molins died possessed of this 
manor with others in the county. In 1441, liohert Hungerford, Esq. 
having married the daughter and sole heir of Sir Wm. Molins, had 
possession of the lands of her inheritance. King Edward the 4th sub¬ 
sequently seized upon the manor, in consequence of Robert lord Hun- 
gerford having sided with the Lancastrians, and disposed of it to John 
lord Wenlock.” 

But I suspect that the family of Molvns and Hunger ford 


HISTORY OF HAMPTON. 


107 


held the manor of Aston and not of Bampton; for the pre¬ 
sent lords of the manor of Bampton are Thomas Denton, esq., 
who holds two-thirds, and lord Shrewsbury, who still holds one 
third of the manor of Bampton, as it would appear, by descent 
from his ancestor Bichard lord Talbot, who first brought it into 
the family. The two-thirds, which have been alienated, passed 
by marriage from the Talbots to the Coventry family, from whom 
they were purchased by the present possessor. 

2. The manor of Bampton deanery is of an earlier ori¬ 
gin than the larger manor within which it lies; having been 
first granted by Leofric to the Dean and chapter of Exeter A. D. 
1046. It has remained in their hands until the present time, 
except for a short period when it was sold with other church- 
lands in the time of the common-wealth. The present lord of 
this manor is E. Whitaker esq., holding by lease from the Church 
of Exeter. 

3. The manor of Aston first appears as having been granted 
before the year 1249, to Hubert Pogges, whence it is sometimes 
called Aston-Pogges: and by the Inquisition of 3rd Edward 
I, it appears that it was held of the superior manor of Bampton 
by the presentation of a sword or the payment of Is. Gd. This 
sum is still paid yearly at Cote House by the present lord of 
the manor H. Hippisley esq., to whose father it was bequeathed 
by the last suiviving member of the Horde family. 

We learn from Dugdale's Baronage of England, vol. II, p. 
143, that Margaret, daughter and co-heir of Bobert Pogeys of 
Stoke in Buckinghamshire, married John Mauduit of Sumer- 
ford in Wiltshire, and that their cousin and heir iEgidia mar¬ 
ried John Molins, ancestor of William lord Molins, who 
[Dugd. p. 147] “ being also a knight, died 8 Maii, 7 Hen. A 1, 
(slain at the siege of Orleans in Prance, as it seems) being then 
seized of the manors of Somerford, Lee, Whittelee, Box, Trow, 
Parnhill, and Core, in com. Wiltes, Broughton, Henley upon 


HISTORY OF BAMPTON. 


10S 

Thames, Aston, Bampton, and a fourth part of the manor of 
Standlake, in com. Oxon.” 

The daughter and heir of Sir William Molyns, Eleanor, married 
Robert Hungerford, esq., eldest sou of Sir Robert Ilungerford, 
■who thus, by right of his wife, came into possession “ of the 
lands of her inheritance, part of which were, Henley upon 
Thames, Broughton, Aston, Bampton, and a part of the manor 
of Standlake, com. Oxon.” See Kennel's Parochial Antiquities, 
p. 562. This Robert Hungerford, says Dugdale, was sum¬ 
moned to Parliament by the title of Lord Molins in the 23rd of 
Henry YI. In what way the manor of Aston came into the 
possession of the Horde family I have not been able to 
ascertain. 

4. Concerning the manor of Siiiffoud, in early times, there 
is great obscurity: in a charter, by which Ethelmare or 
Aylmer, earl of Cornwall, before the year 1005, gave certain lauds 
to the abbey cf Ensham, which he had just founded, appears 
the “ vill of Scipfort," and a charter of confirmation by 
Remigius, bishop of Lincoln, who died and was buried at 
Ensham Abbey, in the year of our Lord 1123, mentions 
“Scipford" as included at that time among the possessions of 
the abbey. See Bishop Kennet, and Eugdale's Monasticon, 
III, pp. 15. 30.] It is however probable that no manorial 
rights were granted to the abbey, for we find that the manor 
of Shifford was in the hands of Edward Crouchback son of 
Henry III, from whom it descended to Henry earl of Lan¬ 
caster, then to his daughter Blanch, from her to John of Gaunt 
duke of Lancaster, and to his son Henry IY. Part of the parish 
of Standlake was included in the royal property, of which Gaunt 

House, with its moat, is still a remnant. When the abbevs 

%> 

were dissolved by Henry YIII, the manor of Shifford was grant¬ 
ed to Edward lord North : its lands &c. were then valued at 
£21. 14s. Gd., less outgoings paid to the receiver &c. £4. 3s. 


HISTORY OF BAMPTON. 


109 


4d. " and so remaineth clear £17. 10s. 2d.” [Valor Eccles. 



from the following imposts : telonio,passagio, stallagio, tollagio, 
tallagio, carriagio and terragio, throughout the whole kingdom. 
These were different tolls and duties levied on the erection of 
stalls, the sale, carriage, and passage of goods, but it is difficult 
to ascertain their exact nature. 

The bounds of Stafford are accurately laid down in the char¬ 
ter above-mentioned, A. D. 1005, and may be traced without 
much difficulty, even at the present time. 

“ These are the land-marks at Shifford ; first from the Thames to 
Chimney-lake : from the lake to the way : along the way to CynlaFs 
stone : from the stone along the way to Iventwine’s tree : from the tree 
along the way to the lake, along the lake again to Sumerford : and two 
weirs, one above the lake, the other beneath.* ” 


NOTE. 


The manor of Shifford has, of late years, fallen into a sort of aheyance.no doubt be¬ 
cause the population has become so small, and from the fact that almost the whole ot it 
is d! vided between the two large farms, called Old and New Shifford. The tenants of both 
these farms have for a large number of years been members of the family of Williams. 
The late Mr. John Williams (formerly of Coate) who died in 1821, with his sons Mr. Mi¬ 
chael and Mr. Peter Williams (the present tenant) have successively held the farm of Old 
Shifford of the earls of Harcourt. 

John Williams, Missionary, martyred at Erromanga, and Sir James Williams, knight, 
Ex-Sheriff, were branches of this family. The following account of the former may 
be of interest to my readers : 

“The Revd. John Williams was the great grandson of Mr. James Williams of 
Southleigh, Yeoman, who was for 40 years a Deacon of the Baptist Church at Coate. 
He left England in 1S1G as a missionary to the island of Raiatea, the largest of the Society 
Islands, under the auspices of the London Missionary Society. For twenty years he 
prosecuted his self-denying labours in the isles of the Pacific, with an amount of suc¬ 
cess not often realized. In addition to his stated labours in preaching and teaching 
the truths of the gospel, in establishing schools, in translating and printing the scrip¬ 
tures and elementary publications, his inventive mind enabled him to instruct the 
natives in improved modes of constructing their houses, in burning lime from their 
coral reefs, in erecting simple sugar mills, and even in the construction of a sloop of 
some CO or 80 tons, in all which labours, like another Oberlin, Williams was the pioneer, 

working laboriously with his own hands.-The perseverance which he displayed in 

overcoming the obstacles which arose from his want of tools, and the destruction of 
his only pair of bellows by the rats, are graphically described in his Missionary Enter- 
prizes, some 9 or 10 editions of which have been published. — His self-devotion and dis¬ 
interestedness at length had its due effect upon the minds of the natives ; animated 
with the zeal of the first Christians they abolished the superstitions of ages and 
brought the idols of their ancestors to their instructors to be committed to the 
flames. The Honourable Captain Waldegrave, H. M. S. Seringapatam, and Lord 
Byron, captain of the Rlonde, have borne hornorable testimony to the proficiency of these 
poor islanders in Scriptural knowledge, and declared that they had received answers to 


* This sindtha land-gemaerc to Scipforda: aerest of Temese on Ceomina-laca: of thaere 
Jaca on thone weg : andlang weges on Cinlafe’s stan : of tham stane andlang weges on 
Kenewines treow : of tham treow andlang weges on tha lace: andlang lace ther aft on 
Sumerford : and II versa : other buian thaere lace : other beneothan. 



no 


HISTORY OF BAMPTON. 


questions on religious subjects put by them, which most assuredly they never 
would have received at any provincial school in England. 

The ardour of Williams’s mind led him to confer the blessings of Evangelization on the 
Harvey group of islands, and especially the island of Rarotonga. At these islands 
the gospel was received with eagerness.—From one island, where it had been pro¬ 
claimed, but where it was not possible to leave a missionary, a native visited Raro¬ 
tonga in an open canoe, (a voyage of SO miles) to fetch, as he expressed it, a little 
religion, which he took home to his countrymen, and then returned lor further instruc ¬ 
tion. In the year 1838 Williams visited his native country, principally with the view 
of interesting the British public in his favourite scheme of evangelizing the different 
groups of the Pacific. Ilis intelligent, simple, and manly appeals found a ready res¬ 
ponse in the heart of thousands. Men of science and of commerce saw, in the pro¬ 
gress of Missions, the true basis of civilization and the advancement of knowledge. 
Many men of rank and affluence (and notably the duke of Devonshire) cheerfully aided 
the undertaking. 

Mr. Williams returned to Polynesia in a ship which had been presented to him, the 
“ Camden,” followed by the prayers and the sympathies of thousands. But shortly 
after his return, in endeavouring to gain access to the island of Erromanga, one of 
the group of the New Hebrides, he was massacred by those whom he came to save; 
in revenge, no doubt, lor some long remembered cruelties inflicted upon them by 
Europeans, who had formerly touched at their shores. He died Nov. 20, 1833.” B. W. 


§ *30. Past history of Bampton chronologically 

ARRANGED. 

The most ancient monument of antiquity remaining in the 
parish of Bampton, is,no doubt, ‘Lew barrow/ a mount about 15 
feet high and of proportional dimensions, standing on the highest 
point of the Lew hills. The Barrow has been of late years 
planted with trees, and surrounded by a hedge, so that it would 
be difficult for a stranger to find it, and when found, the mass 
of foliage, with which it is thickly covered, deprives it of that 
striking and impressive character, which all such grand and 
simple monuments, in their original state, possess. It is also 
for another reason to be lamented that this solitarv record of the 

•J 

Ancient Britons,—for it is probably a chief of that nation who 
lies there entombed,*—should be covered with a plantation. 
The yearly dilapidations of the young trees will more and more 
tend to deprive the mound of its original features, until they 
have arrived at maturity, when they will probably be felled and 
their roots be grubbed up, a process, which in all probability, 
will complete the destruction of the mound, that marks the 
ancient warrior's tomb, t 


t If these 1 emarks should meet theej e ol the proprietor ot Lew Barrow, it may suggest 
for his consideration the propriety of removing the plantation, and of restoring Lew 
Barrow, as near as may be, to its original state. 





HISTORY OF BAMPTON. 


ill 


Though there is no reason for disputing the tradition which 
gives a sepulchral origin to Lew barrow 7 ,1 have not been able to 
ascertain that any Roman or British road passed through or 
near the parish of Bampton, though some of our antiquaries 
have endeavoured to prove that such was the case. 

It is well known that the Romans had hardly gained a foot* 
mg in this island, before they began to make military roads or 
to re-model the existing roads of the Britons, so as to suit their 
own military purposes. These constructions were of two kinds, 
High- ways, vice vicinales , of which there were four, traversing 
the kingdom from one extremity to the other, and bye-ways, 
via minor es, which formed the communication between small 
towns and villages. The former were also denominated, Royal 
roads, regia ; Praetorian, prcetorice ; Consular, consulares; 
Privileged, privilegiatce ; &c. according to particular circum¬ 
stances connected with them : the latter were also denominated 
Vicinal, vicinales ; because they led from one hamlet ( vicus ) to 
another. 

In the third volume of Grose's antiquities I find the follow¬ 
ing account of the two principal Roman roads which passed 
through Oxfordshire. To save the reader the trouble of refer- 
ring to that work, I extract the passage, though I suspect that 
the Akeman Street passed too far to the north to have touched 
the parish of Bampton : 

“The Roman roads in this county are the Ikeneld Street and 
Akeman Street. The first enters Oxfordshire at Garingeford from 
Berkshire, and passes North-east, where it enters Buckinghamshire. 
The .* ’-■'man Street was a consular way, enters from Buckinghamshire 
near Bicester, passes through Woodstock Park, and crossing the river 
Charwel, and Evanlode, enters Gloucestershire, South-West of Burford 
(it must therefore have run by or through Bampton). Another road is 
the remains of a vicinal way, called Gryme’s Dyke, which enters this 
county from Berkshire, near Wallingford, crosses the Thames, and run¬ 
ning South-East, and crossing Ikeneld Street, passes the Thames a se¬ 
cond time near Henly, and re-enters Berkshire. 

It appears, then, that before the conquest of England by the 

15 - 


112 


HISTORY OF BAMFTON. 


Saxons, there are no notices, in history, of Bampton, and but 
one ancient monument which can be said to belong to the 
preceding period. But soon after the country had submitted 
to the domination of the Saxons, we find this town mentioned 
as the scene of a bloody battle between the West-Saxons and 
the neighbouring Britons from Wales. The earliest mention 
of this occurrence is found in the work, commonly called the 
Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, which was written at different times 
and by different persons : the first part of it was written proba¬ 
bly in the seventh century. 

The unlearned reader may require to be told that between 
the years 500 and 800 of the Christian sera England was 
divided into seven petty kingdoms. The county of Oxford lay 
between the kingdoms of Mercia and Wessex. This frontier * 
position of Oxfordshire occasioned it to be the scene of frequent 
battles between the Mercians and West-Saxons, in which the 
neighbouring Britons, from the western parts of Gloucestershire 
and Wales, frequently took part, assisting sometimes one party, 
sometimes the other, and not unfrequently fighting against 
them both. In the year 611 Cynegils became king of Wessex, 
and in the fourth year of his reign he was summoned to repel 
a large army of Welchmen who had invaded his dominions on 
the northern frontier. In this expedition he had the aid of 
his brave, but ferocious and blood-thirsty son, Cuiehelm, who 
became king after him. The notice of this exploit is given 
with little regard to embellishment in the Saxon Chronicle. 

“ A. D. 814. This year Cynegils and Cuiehelm fought at Beamdune, 
and slew two thousand and sixty five Welshmen.” 

This is all we know of a battle, which, if we may judge by 
the number of the slain, must have been an action of consider¬ 
able importance. It is not mentioned by Venerable Bede; and 
some of the later Chroniclers, as' Ethelwerd, Henry of Hun¬ 
tingdon, and Florence of Worcester, have* either followed the 


113 


HISTORY OF BAMPTON. 

words of the Old Chronicle, or varied and amplified them by 
unimportant additions.* 

I find in a work of little authority called the British Travel¬ 
ler [4 vols 4to, London, 1819, v. IV, p. 63] the following state¬ 
ment, which, if it were true, would give us the next fact in 
chronological order, belonging to the history of Bampton. 

, “ At Bampton, in 682 , a council is said to have been held by the 
kings Etheldred and Berthwald ; at which Aldhelm, abbat of Malmes- 
bury, being present, was commanded to write against the error of the 
British Church in the observance of Easter.” 

It is certain that such a council was held about this time, 
and that Aldhelm, abbat of Malmesbury, was present at it, and 
it is extremely probable that the council was held in this neigh¬ 
bourhood, but that it was held at Bampton is more than 1 can 
venture positively to assert. 

Another statement, found in the same publication, however 
correct it may be in all other particulars, is certainly erroneous 
as far as regards the place where the facts are said to have hap¬ 
pened. The author, describing Bampton, writes thus : 

“On a spot still called the Battle Edge, Cuthred, king of the West- 
Saxons, then tributary to the Mercians, incensed by the exactions of 
. . eir king Etbelbald, hazarded an engagement with that prince. He 
was successful, and took from the enemy their standard, on which was 
he portraiture of a golden dragon. Plott says that within his own 
memory, the towns-people were accustomed annually to make a dragon 
o which they added a giant, and both were carried through the street, 
w th much parade and jollity, on Midsummer Eve.” 

In reply to this narrative we have the words of the Anglo- 
Saxon Chronicle, which, under the date A. D. 752, gives the 


* "t Is proper to mention that Mr Camden lays the scene of this action at Beandun, now 
Elido.i in Dorsetshire, and Gibson, the commentator of the Saxon Chronicle, at Bampton, 
in Devonshire, with which our Bampton i9 often confounded, even at the present day. 
But, If we consider the many conflicts in that age between the Britons and Saxons 
the'.e parts, and that the Britons were yet powerful here, before Mercia was brought un¬ 
de; subjection to Penda, about 626 ; and that the West-Saxon kings had their frontier- 
i mson at Cirencester and F.ynsham, frequently infested by the bordering Britons, it is 
much more probable that Bampton in Oxfordshire was the scene of the battle. To these 
conjectural reasons we may add the decisive testimony of the Polychronicon, in which 
under the year 611, we read as follows: “ Kinegilsus et Quiehelmus multa Btrenue fec#- 
runt contra Britones, potissime a pud Bampton juxta Oxoniam." 



114 


HISTORY OF BAMPTON. 


following account. “ This year Cuthred, king of the W est- 
Saxons, in the 12th year of his reign, fought at Burford against 
Ethelbald, king of the Mercians, and pat him to flight.” Ihis 
was no doubt the battle fought at the place called Battle Edge, 
and Burford, not Bampton, the place referred to by the Author 
of the British Traveller. 

After this time the name of Bampton again merges into its 
original obscurity until the reign of king Alfred, an interval 
of oOO years. This noble monarch, whom England will always 
place at the head of its truly great men, was born at W antage 
in Berkshire, and passed great part of his life in that part of the 
kingdom. It is necessary here to speak only of his connexion 
with Bampton which derives its principal lustre from 
the arts of peace and civilization which it was his principal 
object to promote. We are not left to doubt that the river 
whose navigable stream winds between Bampton and the op¬ 
posite county of Berks, has been often covered with the 
slender ships and honoured by the presence of the patriot king. 
But when his fleets and arms had saved England from subjec¬ 
tion to her cruel foes, her sovereign endeavoured, by promoting 
learning and teaching his subjects the advantages of good 
government, to elevate the country which he had saved to a 
position among the civilized nations of Europe. To effect this 
object he not only patronized learning but became a learned 
man himself. He wrote works, which are still in existence, 
occupying many volumes, and to him is due the institution of 
many of our most useful laws. 

Sir Henry Spclman, in his life of this illustrious king, p. 127, 
has given an extract from a MS. formerly in the Cottonian 
library, containing “ diverse precepts and instructions ” of King 
Alfred, tending to inform and ameliorate his rude subjects. 
This MS probably perished in the fire which consumed many 
volumes of the Cottonian librarv. The reader will find in the 

t j 


HISTORY OF BAMPTON. 


115 


appendix to this volume all that remains of these sayings of 
King Alfred in the original Anglo-Saxon tongue, and I here 
subjoin a literal translation in English : 


At Shifford sat thanes many, 

Many bishops, and many book-learned [men], 

Earls wise and knights awful. 

There was earl Alfric, of the law so wise, 

And eke Allred, England’s herd [’s-man], England’s darling ; 
In England he was king; them he began [to] learn, 

So him they might hear, how they their life should lead. 

Alfred, he was in England a king well so strong. 

He was king and clerk: well he loved God’s work. 

He was wise in his word, and wary in his speech. 

He was the wisest man that was in England. 

Thus quoth Alfred England’s darling: 

“ Would ye now live and long after your Lord ! 

And he would you [make to] know wise things, 

How you might world’s worship obtain. 

And eke your souls unite to Christ! ” 

Wise were the quotations that said the king Alfred. 

Mildly I mind you, my dear friend, poor 
And easily loving, that ye all dread your 
Lord Christ, love him and like, for he is 
Lord of life : he is one God over all goodness. 

He is one bliss overall blessedness. 

He is one man, mild master: he one folk’s father [common 
And darling : he is one right wise and rich king, Jatl 

That him not shall be pane naught of his wdl 
Who Him here in world worship and eth.” 

Th us quoth Alfred, England's comfort. 

“ He may no right king be under Christ’s self, 

But [unless] he he book-learned, and wise of law 
Anil he his writs well know, and he can 
Letters locen himself, how he shall his land 
Lawfully hold. 

Thus quoth Alfred, England’s comfort: 

“ The earl and the atheling too be under the king, 

The land to lead with lawful deed ; 

Both the clerk and the knight with evenly right. 

For after that the man soweth, 

Thereafter he moweth ; 

And every man’s doom to his own door cometh. 

Thus quoth Alfred : “The knight behoveth 
Cunningly to mow for to weary [relieve] the land 
Of hunger, and of heregong, that the Church have 
Quiet and the churl [peasant] be in peace, 

His seeds to sow, his meads to mow, 

His ploughs to drive to our all behoof: 

This is the knight’s law to look that it well fare. 


116 


HISTORY OF BAMPTON. 


Here the original, copied by Spelman, terminates, and as the 
manuscript no longer exists, the reader must take the 

remainder in Spelman's free translation. 

Thus quoth Alfred : “ Without wisdom wealth is worth little. 
Though a man had an hundred and seventy acres sowix'with gold, and 
all grew like corn, yet were all that wealth worth nothing, unless that 
of an Enemy one could make it become his ft iend. For what differs 
gold from a stone, but by discrete using of it?” 

Thus quoth Alfred : “ A young man must never give himself to 
evil, though good befals him not to his mind, nor though he enjoys not 
every thing he would : for Christ can when he will give good after evil 
and wealth after grace. Happy is he that is made for it.” 

Thus quoth Alfred : “ A wise Child is the blessing of his father. If 
thou hast a child, while it is little, teach it the precepts that belong to 
a man ; and when it is grown up it will follow them ; then shall thy child 
become such as shall recompense thee; but if thou lettest him go after 
his own will, when he cometh to age it will grieve him sore, and he 
shall curse him that had the tuition of him: then shall thy child trans¬ 
gress thy admonition, and it would be better for thee that thou hadst no 
Child; for a child unborn is better than one unbeaten.” 

Thus quoth Alfred: “If thou growest into age, hast wealth, and 
canst take no pleasure, nor hast strength to govern thyself, then thank 
thy Lord for ail that he hath sent thee, for thy own life, and for the 
day’s light, and for all the pleasures he hath made for man ; and what¬ 
soever becometh of thee, say thou, come what come will, he wel¬ 
come.” 

Thus quoth Alfred : “ Word’iy wealth at last cometh to the worms 
and all the glory of it to dust, and our life is soon gone. And though 
one had the rule of all this middle world, and of the wealth in it; yet 
could he keep his life but a short while. All thy Happiness would but 
work thy misery, unless thou couldst purchase thee Christ. Therefore, 
when we lead our lives as God hath taught us, we then best serve our¬ 
selves. For then he assured that he will support us ; for so said Salo¬ 
mon, that wise man; well is he that doeth good in this world, for at 
last he cometh where he findeth it.” 

Thus quoth Alfred : “ My dear son, set thee now beside me, and I 
Will deliver thee true Instructions. My son I feel that my hour is 

coining. My countenance is wan. My.My days are almost 

done. We must now part. I shall to another world, and thou shall 
be left alone in all my wealth. I pray thee (for thou art my dear child) 
strive to be a Father, and a Lord to thy people, he thou the children’s 
Father and the widow’s friend, comfort thou the poor and shelter the 
weak ; and with all thy might, right that which is wrong. And, son, 
govern thyself by law, then shall the Lord love thee, and God above all 
things shall be thy Reward. Call thou upon him to advise thee in all 
thy need, and so he shall help thee the better to compass that which 
thou wouldst.” 

In remembrance of king Alfred's parliament at Shifford we 
may adduce the testimony of long-lived tradition: the rising* 



HISTORY OF BAMPTCN. 


117 


ground, in which the little church stands, is still called the 
f ' Court-close,” and is well adapted for holding a large assem¬ 
bly ol people. The “ king’s-way ” field, close to Aston/ derives 
its name, probably, from the presence of the king. It may 
also be mentioned that ruins, apparently of a burial-ground, 
lying between the present church and the river, attest that Shif- 
foru was a more considerable place than it is at present. 

A. D. 1016. This year was fought a severe battle between 
Edmund Ironside and Canute, at Sceorstan, which is referred 
to Chimney by Thorpe, in his translation of Lappenberg [II, 
189], but I have no doubt that it applies rather to Sherstono 
near Malmesbury. 

The history of Bampton is now again lost in obscurity, 
until the time of Edward the Confessor, — a man who would 
have been a credit to a society of monks, but, as a king, was 
the first cause of all the calamities which his people afterwards 
endured. The chaplain to this prince was Leofric, who, upon 
the uniou of the two bishoprics of Crediton and St. German's 
(the bishopric of Cornwall) in 1046, and the removal of them 
to Exeter, became the first bishop of that see, and gave to his 
newly founded cathedral-church at Exeter his land at Bampton, 
which after the lapse of eight centuries, notwithstanding ail the 
violent religious and political convulsions which have arisen 
duiing that period, the Dean and chapter of Exeter still retain 
in their possession. For the most complete account of Leofric, 
see Godwin, vol. I, p. 300. 

In the Appendix will be found the charter by which the 
church of Exeter still holds its property in Bampton: it is co¬ 
pied out of a book preserved in the Bodleian library, which 
was also given by Leofric to the church at Exeter, 

A. D. 1086. At this time Domesday-book was written, by 
order of William the Conqueror. Bampton is therein men¬ 
tioned in the following maimer: 


113 


HISTORY OR BAMPTON. 


“The King holds Benton (Bampton). There are twenty seven 
hides and a half. In the domain are <3 waggons and G slaves and 40 
villains and 17 husbandmen, and 13 Cottagers (bordarii) holders of 
Bord-lands, have 1G waggons. In the time of king Edward they had 
26 waggons. 

There are four mills of 25s. From the fisheries they have 20 shil¬ 
lings. From the meadows 65 shillings. From the market 50 shillings. 
From the pannage and salt-works of Wic and other customary pay¬ 
ments, £9. 13s. From the year’s produce £ 15. The soke of two 
Hundreds belongs to this Manor. 

In the whole it pays by the year 80 pounds and forty shillings by 
the tale. 

Ilbert of Lacy holds half a hide by the gift of the Bishop of Baycux ; 
and Walter, son of Ponz, holds a certain small portion of land ; and 
Henry de Ferrars holds a certain Wood, which Bundy the Forester had. 
The County affirms that all this belongs to the King. 

The Bishop of Exeter holds of the king six hides in Benton, (Bamp- 
ton,) and Robert of him. Bishop Levric (Leofric) held it. The land 
is of 6 ploughs. Now in the domain are two ploughs and two slaves and 
ten villains with seven Cottagers. They have three ploughs. In that 
place are two fisheries of thirty-three shillings, and forty acres of 
Meadow.” 

A. D. 1152, March 14 — The dale of a ball issued by 
Pope Eugeni us, confirming the possessions of the church of 
Exeter. Hampton is therein described as a church divided 
into two prebends by the then Bishop of Exeter, Robert Chic¬ 
hester— “ut videlicet, si ccclesia ilia de Bentune in melio- 
rem statum temporis processu devenerit, sexaginta solidi ex- 
inde, si superfuerint, fratrum communioni proveniant.” 

A. D. 1218. This year, according to "White Kennct, in 
his Parochial Antiquities, [4th edit. v. I, page 1S7,] “in the 
accounts of the sheriff, Reginald, earl of Boulogne, answered 
for lands in Bampton.” 

This is confirmed by the plea which William de Valence ad¬ 
duced at the assize held in Oxford, A. I). 1285, shewing that 
he held his manorial rights in Bampton by the same tenure as 
the Count of Boulogne,who “held that manor, with the hun¬ 
dred, of our King Henry, father of the king that now is. & c.” 

A. D. 1249, March 10, the date of the charter to William 
de Valence. By this deed, of which the preamble is addressed 



HISTORY OF BAMPTON. 


119 

in the usual form, “The king to the archbishops, &c. health/' 
recites the grant of 

all our manor of Bampton to our faithful and well-beloved brother Wil¬ 
liam de Valence, together with the hundred, domains, homages, rents, 
&c. &c. except those lands with their appurtenances which we had be¬ 
fore granted within the same manor for thirty librates of land to Hu¬ 
bert Fogeys, whose service and homage we have moreover granted to 
the same William de Valence. 

A. D. 1314-15. In this vear, which was the 8th of Edward 
II, Aylmer de Valence, grand-son of William de Valence, and 
earl of Pembroke, “ obtained a license from the king to make 
a castle of his house at Bampton." These are the words of 
White Kennct, in his Parochial Antiquities[T, p. 380,] but as 
he refers to no authority for this statement, the period, at which 
Bampton Castle first received the character and appearance of 
a fortress was supposed to be still involved in uncertainty, 
and in the first edition of this volume it was stated as a mat¬ 
ter rather of probability than of historical certainty that Aylmer 
de Valence first fortified the Castle. Of this fact there cannot 
now be a reasonable doubt, for in the Patent Rolls, publish¬ 
ed within the last few years, we find the following entry, [Pat. 
Rot. 8 Edw. II, par. 2, m. 17] : 

Quod Adomarus de Valencia Comes Pembrochiae possit crenellar® 
mansum suum de Bampton in com. Oxon. 

That Aylmer de Valence, earl of Pembroke, may crenellate, [i. e. 
make battlements and towers to] his castle at Bampcon. 

By the discovery of this notice the question is entirely set at 
rest for the future; and it is interesting to remark, though no 
longer necessary as a link in the argument, that the ruins of 
the Castle, still in existence, are in direct harmony with the 
account just given, being certainly not more ancient than the 
date here assigned. 

A. D. 1321. This year is memorable for the civil wars which 

ra^ed between the king Edward II, and his barons. The 

dissension had begun the year before, but some hopes of a 

reconciliation still remained: which however were soon de- 

16 


120 


HISTORY OF BAMPTON. 


stroycd. The cause of the war being renewed is told us 
by Geoffery le Baker a native of Swinbroke, * and afterwards 
a monk in Oseney abbey. “ In the year 1321 the lady. 
Queen Isabella, about the feast of Saint Mi chad, came to the 
Castle of Leeds in Kent, wishing to spend the night there, 
but admittance was denied her. The king, construing the 
queen's repulse into an affront upon himself, commanded 
the neighbouring people, with the men of Essex and some 
Londoners, to besiege the castle. The governor of the for¬ 
tress, B. de Baddesmere, leaving his wife and children in the 
castle, with his servants to defend it, set out with the other 
barons to plunder the property of Hugh" le De Spencer, the 
king's favourite. The king meanwhile reduced the castle 
and spent the following Christmas-day at Cirencester, from 

whence he marched with his army towards Gloucester. Mean- 

• 

while the earl of Lancaster was at the head of another 
army at Bampton. During these fatal heats, there were so¬ 
lemn justs performed at Witney, between Humphrey Bohun, 
earl of Hereford, and Aylmer de Valence, earl of Pembroke. 

A. D. 1329. Robert de Elford [probably Yelford Tiear 
Bampton] at this time held a tenement at Aston on the condi¬ 
tion of “ serving with a bow and arrows or some other kind of 
arms in any war of our lord the king, within his kingdom, for 
the space of 40 days, at his own proper cost." [See Appen¬ 
dix, p. 16, last line; and Ashmol. MS. SG3, p. 71]. 

A. D. 1387. Date of the battle of Badcot-Bridge. 

“ The river Isis is crossed, three miles to the south-west of Bampton, 
by Radcot Bridge, an ancient structure of three arches. In conse¬ 
quence of a cut, made in 1787, for the improvement of the navigation, 
the stream, which flows through, is now deserted by traffic, but the 
neighbourhood possesses much picturesque beauty. In this vicinage, 
a conflict took place, in the reign of Richard II, between Robert de 


* GalCridi 1c Baker de Swinbroke Chronicon, edid. J, A. Giles, Lend. Svo, 1847. 




HISTORY OF BAMPTON. l2t 

Vere, carl of Oxford, and several of the nobility who envied his favour 
with the crown. The Earl was vanquished, but saved his life by plung¬ 
ing into the stream, and swimming to the opposite hank. He escaped 
to the continent, hut died, three years afterwards, in Lorraine, by a 
wound received from a hoar in the chase. His corpse was conveyed to 
England, and interred at the priory of Colne in Essex, which structure 
had been founded b)^ his ancestor, Alberic, the first earl. The king 
attended the funeral in person ; and his monument is still extant, 
enriched with the effigies of himself and wife.” [British Trav. 
vol. IV, p. 63.] 

A. D. 1400. In this year, which ended the reign of Ri¬ 
chard IT, and began that of his successor Henry IV, the 
men of Wantage, Earingdon, Bampton, and no doubt of 
Shifford also, which belonged to Henry's family, rose in fa¬ 
vour of Henry and defeated the earl of Salisbury and other 
partisans of king Richard at Cirencester [Rymer, Merks's 
pardon, Nov. 28, 1400, and Chronicque de la traison de 
Richart, &c. par B. Williams, Lond. 1841, p. 241]. 

A. D. 1443. Edmund Wallewayn held a tenement at Aston, 
half a yard-land, two acres of meadow, and two of pasture 
&c., also a messuage at Cote, one yard-land, three acres of 
meadow, three of pasture, &c., also at Lewe, one yard-land. 
[Inquisitiones post mortem, IV, 217]. 

A. D. 148 L, April 6, the date of a deed, [No XIV in the 
Appendix] by which it appears that “ Richard V illiams came 
to this court and received of the lord one messuage, one toft 
and two half yard-lands with their appurtenances, called 
Doddes and Wilderes, to have and to hold to him and to his, 
according to the custom of the manor, by rent, other charges, 
customs and services therefrom justly due and accustomed 
formerly to be paid therefrom : and he gave to the lord by way 
of fine, both for right to grant a sub-teuement, and also for 
having free entry, 20 pence, provided always that he shall pay 
to the lord, under Hie name ofheriot, whenever it shall so hap¬ 
pen, 20 pence; and lie did fealty, and was admitted tenant 

thereof/' 


122 


HISTORY OF BAMPTON. 


A. D. 1540. To this year belongs the following notice of 
Shapp, alias Heppe abbey, in the county of Westmoreland, 
from a Roll, 32nd of llenry VIII, preserved in the Augmenta¬ 
tion office and quoted in Dugdale's Monasticon, vol. VI, 
page 840 : 

“ Computus ministrorum domini regis temp. Hen. VIII. 

Shappe nuper Monasterium. Com. Westmorland.].[among 

many other places] Carhullen in Bampton, reddit. et firm. ten. £ 4 . 17s. 
4d.” 

A. D. 1543. This year the manors and property belonging 
to the abbey of Ensham were granted by King Henry VIII to 
Edward lord North. [See Appendix, No XV.] 

A. D. 1567. Sir Thomas Chamberlayne is said to have 
been lord of the manor of Bampton at this time. Tie pos¬ 
sessed a MS. from which Dr. Plott gave an account of 
different tolls from which Shifford was exempt. See Plott's 
Hist, of Oxon.] 

A. D. 1574. In a “ Book of Visitation s/’ for this year, 
among the Additional MSS [11388] in the British Museum, 
I find the following notice of a highly respectable family resi¬ 
dent at Bampton. 

Michael Pennystone, of Bampton in com. Oxon. gent., 2nd sonne to 
Thos. of Deane in com. Oxon., married Anne dau. to Jeames Caltliorpe 
of Calthorpe in com. Norf., esq., and by her bathe issue John Pennistone 
his eldest sonne and heire apparente, Michael 2nd sonne and Cecilye 
now yonge. 

A. D. 1642. Ecbard, in his History of Englrnd, [vol. II, 
p. 371], gives the following account of England at this time : 

In most parts of England, skirmishes, assaults and sallcys were so 
frequent and so fierce, that all people now dreaded and felt the deplo¬ 
rable effects of a civil war. 

A. D. 1646. About this date a battle w 7 as fought in Aston - 
field, between the king's party and the republicans. Perhaps 
the two square entrenchments, w T hjch still appear on the open 
field between Ten-foot and the Isle of Wight, were thrown up 


* Kennett's Parochial Antiquities, page. 886—Quoted from Leland’s Collectanea, 
t*rn. I, p. 328. 





HISTORY OF BAMPTON. 


123 


at this time : but I can lind no written record either of them 
or of the battle. 

A. D. 1664. This year the celebrated antiquary, Antony 
Wood, paid a visit to Bampton. We learn this fact from his 
own diary, which was published by Hearne in a work contain¬ 
ing the biographies of the three antiquaries, Leland, Hearne, 
and Wood. At page 192 of the second volume of that book 
we find the following memorandum: 

“ At Northinore with Mr. Pet. Nicolls, where we were entertained 
by Mr- Twyford. Thence w r ee went to Bampton, where wee lodged 
one night in the house of Mr. Cook, one of the vicars. The next morn¬ 
ing very early I went to the castle, neare the church there, and 
took the ruins thereof, and so return’d to Oxon.” 

This sketcli of the castle is engraved in the volume of biogra¬ 
phy above-mentioned : the original is still preserved among the 
papers of Ant. Wood in the Ashmolean Museum at Oxford, No. 
8505. It is very rudely drawn and in the present day would be 
thought a most contemptible performance, even for an amateur : 
yet it nevertheless furnishes sufficient data upon which, with 
the assistance of the existing ruins, a plan of the w r est front 
of the castle might be constructed with tolerable accuracy. 

A. D. 1677. Dr. Plott's History of Oxfordshire was publish¬ 
ed this year, bearing the following title: 

“ The Natural History of Oxfordshire, being an essay toward the 
Natural History of England. By R. P [lott], LL. D. Printed at the 
Theater in Oxford, and are to be had there : And in London at Mr. S. 
Miller’s, at the Star near the West-end of St. Paul’s Church-yard. 
1577. The price in sheets at the press, nine shillings. To subscribers, 
eight shillings.” 

A. D. 1700. In the Rawlinson MS., wdiich was written about 
this time, I find the following passage, which gives the state 

of the manors, &c. about this date. 

“ Lords of the manor and hundred of Bampton, George Talbot earl 
of Shrewsbury (his elder brother being a.abroad) and William Co¬ 

ventry esq.—present vicars, 1. Mr John Edmonds, M. A. St. John’s 
coll. Camb. 2. Mr. Thomas Snell, M. A. fellow of Ex. Coll. Oxf.—The 
Dean and Chapter of Exeter have a manor here and at Chimney, leased 
at about £600 per an. by Mr. Veisey, and £300 more by Mrs. Crofts. 
—Lord of the manor of Shifford is Tho. Slatter, alias Bacon ; it was 
purchased of Sonibank Vesey-Lord of the manor of Aston and 




124 


HISTORY OF BAMPTON. 


Coate, Alan Horde esq. — Weald belongs to Shrewsbury and Coventry. 
Haddon belongs to Sir Rob. Throckmorton. Lew belongs to Shrews¬ 
bury and Coventry. ” Church dedicated to St. Peter. “The parsonage 
or glebe-land without any tithes, is lett by the dean and chapter of 
Exeter to Mr. John Dew at 8 score pounds p. an., renewable every 7tli 
year in a lease of 21 years. The dean and chapter of Exeter have the 
tithes of the several farms, now lett out to the Rev. Mr. Wine of Kings¬ 
ton, in value about 150 lib. p. an., of which 20 p. an. is let to Mr. 
Nabbs.” 

A. D. 1812. The date of an Act of Parliament 52 Geo III, 
c. 46, by which the land round Bampton was inclosed, and 
three estates set apart for the Vicars in compensation for the 
tithes, which they formerly received. 


ikPPIIMX 

OF ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS, &c. 


1. KING ALFRED S PARLIAMENT AT SIIIFFORD, A. D. 890. 


From an ancient Anglo-Saxon Manuscript, formerly in the Cottonian library, and quoted by Spelman 
in his Life of Allred ; but now supposed to be lost. 

At Sifford seten thaines manie, 

Fele biscopes, and fele boclered, 

Erles prude, cnihtes egloebe. 

There was erle Alfric, of tlie lage swuth wise; 

And ec Alfred Engle-hirde, Engle-derling. 

On Engelond he was king : hem he gan leren 
Swo hi heren mihten, 1m hi here lif leden scolden. 

Alfred he was on Engelond a king wel swithe strong ; 

He was king and clerk : wel he luvede God’s werk : 

He was wise on his word, and war on his speche; 

He was the wisest man that was on Engelond. 

Thus qwath Alvred, Engle frofre, 

“ Wolde ye nu liben and lusten yure louerd, 

And he yu wolde wisen wiseliche tliinges, 

Hu ye mihten werlds wurthscipe welden, 

And ec yuie soule samne to Criste.” 

Wise weren the ewethen the saide the king Alfred ! 

“ Mildeliche I muneyu, mine dere friend, arme 
And edilede luviende, that ye all drede yure 
Driliten Crist, luviend him and licen ; for he is 
Louerd of Life ; he is one God over all godnesse ; 

He is one blisse over alle blessedness ; 

He is one manne, milde maister ; he one folce fader, 

And frofre : he is one riht wis and riche king, 

That him ne seal be pane noht of his will 
Hwo him here on we ride wurthend and etli.” 


Thus ewath Alvred, Engle frofre, 

“ He mai no riht cing ben under Crist self, 
But he be boclered, wis o loagc, 

And he hise writes wel ieweme, and hecunne 
Letreslocen himselve hulie seal his lond 
Lagelice helden.” 


Thus ewath Alvred Engle frofre: 

“ The erl and the atheling tho ben under the cing, 
The lond to leden mid logelic deden. 

Bothe the clerc and the eniht demen evenliche riht: 
For after that te man soweth, 

Therafter he seal mowen ; 

And clfrilccs mantles dom to his ogen dure charigeth. 


9 9 



126 


HISTORY OF BAMPTON. 


Thus cwath Alvred, “ The cniht behovetli 
Ceneliche to mowen vor to werie the loud 
Of hunger, and oflieregong, 

That the Chureche have gritli, and te clierl be in frith, 
H is sedes to sowen, hise niedes to mowen, 

His plowes to driven to ure alre bilif. 

This is the cnihtes lage, to locen that it wel fare, &c. - 


II. CHARTER OF LEOFRIC TO THE CHURCH OF EXETER. 

A. D. 1046. 

From an ancient MS. preserved in the Bodleian library [Auctarium, D, 2, 1(1.] 

Her swutelath on tliissere Christes boc hwset Leofric bishop haefth gedon innto 
sancte Petres minstre on Exanceastre ; thaer his biscopstol is, thaet is thaet he haefth 
geinnod thaet aer geutod wms thurh Codes fultum and thurh his forespraece and 
thurh his gaersuma. thaet is aerost thaet land aet Culmstoke, and thaet land aet Bran- 
cescumbe, and aet Sealtcumbe, and thaet land aet sancte Maria circean, and thaet 
land aet Stofordtune, and aet Swearcanwille, and thaet land aet Morceshille, and 
Sidefullan hiwisc, and thaet land aet Brihtricesstane, and thaet land aet Toppes- 
hamrne, theali the Harold hit mid unlage utnam, and thaet land aet Stoke, and 
thaet land aet Sydebirig, and thaet land aet Niwantune, and aet Northtune, and 
thaet land aet Clist the Wid haefde. Thonne ys thisse eaca on landum the he haefth of 
his agenum tluet minster midgegodod for his hlaforda sawlum, and for his ag- 
enre : tham Codes theowum to bigleofanthe for heora sawlum thingian sceolon. 
thaet ys aerost thaet land aet BEMTONE, and aet ESTTUNE, and aet Ceommenige, 
and thaet land aet Dollisc and aet Holacumbe, and aet Suthwuda, and he ne fun- 
de tha he to tham minstre feng nan mare landes the thider ynn gewylde waere, 
thonne twa hida landes aet Ide, and thaeron naes orf-cynnes nan mare buton 
VII hrutheru. Thonne ys this seo oncnawennis the he haefth God mid gecnawen 
and sanctum Petrum into tham halgan minstre on circlicum madmum thaet is thaet 
he haefth thider ynn gedon II b. roda and II mycele gebonede roda butan oth- 
rum litum silfrenum swur rodum and II mycele Christes boc gebonede, and III 
gebonede serin, and I geboned altaie, and V silfrene caliceas, and IV corpora- 
les, and I silfren pipe, and V, fulle maessereaf, and II dalmatica, and III pistel- 
roccas,and I V subdiacones handlin, and III cantercaeppa,and HI canterstafas,and 

V paellene weofod sceatas, and VII of ’or a-dels as and II taeppedu, and III bera 
scin,and VII setl hraegel and II ricg-hraegel,and II walire t,and VI maesene-sceala, 
and II gebonede hnaeppas,andIVhornas,and II mycelegebonede candlesticcan,and 

VI laessan candelsticcan gebonede, and 1 silfren stor-cylle mid silfren stor-sticcan, 
and Vlllhcflas, and II guthfana, and I mere [forte mere],and VI midreca, and I 
firdwaen, and Icyste, and thaer nseron aer buton VHupphangene bella, and nu thaer 
sind XIII upphangene, and XII handbella and II fulle maesse-boc, and I collec- 
taneum, and II pistel-boc, and II fulle sang-boc and I niht-sang, and I Ad te 
levavi, and I tropere, and II salteras, and se thriddan saltere swa man sirnnh on 
Rome, and II ymneras, and I deorwyrthe bletsing-boc, and III othre and I 
Englisc Christes boc, and II sumer raeding-boc, and I winter raedino--boc, and 
llegula canonicorum, and Martyrologium, and I canon on Leden, and I scrift 
boc on Englisc, and I full spell boc, wintres and sumeres, and Boeties boc on 
Englisc, and I mycel Englisc boc ; be gehwilcum thingum on leoth wiran ge- 
worht, and he ne funde on tham mynstre tha he to feng boca na ma buton 
ane capitularie, and I fore aldodne nihtsang, and I piste! boc, and II foreal- 
dode raeding boc swithe wake, and I wac maes-sereaf. And tlmr fela leden 
boca he beget inn to tham mynstre liber-pastoralis, and liber dialogorum and 


APPENDIX, NO IV. 


127 


[A. D. 1249] 


libri IV prophetarum, and liber Boetii de consolatione, and Isagogc Porphyrii, 
and I passionalis, and liber Prosperi, and liber Prudentii Psychomachiae, and 
liber Prudentii hymnorum, and liber Prudentii de martyribus, and liber Eze- 
chielis prophetae, and Cantica Canticorum, and liber Isaiae prophetae on sun- 
dron, and liber Isidori etymologiarum, and passiones apostolorum, and ex- 
positio Bedae super evangelium Lucae, and expositio Bedae super Apocalypsim, 
and expositio Bedae super VII epistolas canonicas, and liber Isidori de novo 
et veteri testamento, and liber Isidori de miraculis Christi, and liber Osorii, and 
liber Machabaeorum, and liber Persii, and Sedulies boc, and liber Aratoris, and 
diadema monachorum, and Glosae Statii, and liber officialis Amalaiii. 

And ofer his daeg he ann his capellan thider binnan forth mid him silfum 
on eallum tham thingum the he silf dede mid Godes theninge on ther gerad 
ther tha Godes tlieowas the thaer binnan beoth aefre his sawle gemunon mid 
heora gebedum and maesse-sangum to Christe and to sancte Petre and to 
eallum tham halgum the ther halige minister is fore gehalgod ther his sawle 
beo gode the anfengre, and se the thas gyfu, and thisne unnan wille Gode, and 
sancte Petre act Bredan si him heofena rice actbroden, and si he ecelice genitherod 
into helle pite. 


III. SURVEY OF BAMPTON, A. D. 108G. 


From Domesday Book, written in the reign of William the Conqueror and preserved in the chap¬ 
ter-house at Westminster. This valuable record has been printed by the Commissioners in 5 vols 
folio but with abbreviations, as in the Original; which makes it difficult to read : that the ex¬ 
tract may be more perspicuous and intelligible, it is here printed without abbreviations. 

[DOMESDAY BOOK, THE PRINTED EDITION, VOL. I, P. 151]. 

Rex tenet BENTONE : ibi sunt XXVII hidae et dimidia. In dominio sunt 
VI carrae, et VI servi, et XL villani, et XVII buri, et XIII bordarii: habent XVI 
carras : tempore Regis Edwardi habebant XXVI carras. 

Ibi quatuor molini [molinae], XXV solidorum. De piscariis XX solidos; de 
pratis XLV solidos ; de mercato L solidos; de pasnagio et salinis de Wic et aliis 
consuetudinibus hominum IX libras et XIII solidos; de annona anni XV libras. 
Soca duorum lmndredorum pertinet huic manerio. 

Inter totum reddit per annum quatuor XX libras et XL solidos ad nnrae- 
rum. 

Dimidum hidae tenet Ilbertus de Laci, dono Episcopi Baiocensis : et Walterus 
filius Ponz tenet quandam particulam terrae; et Henricus de Fereires tenet quan- 
dam silvam, quam tenuit Bundi forestarius. 

Hoc totum testatur comitatus pertinere ad dominium regis. 

, • • • • • • 

[ALSO VOL. I, PAGE 155 . NO. V.] 

Terra episcopi de execestre. 

Episcopus Exoniensis tenet de rege VI hidas in BENTONE, et Robertus de eo ; 
Leuric episcopus tenuit. Terra est V carrarum ; nunc in dominio duae carrae. et 
duo servi ; et X villani cum VII bordariis. Habent VII carras. Ibi Ilpiscariae 
de XXXIII solidis set XLVIII acreas prati. Tempore regis Edwardi, valebant 
IV libris, modo VI libris. 


IV. CHARTER OF KING HENRY III, DATED MARCH 10, 1249, 
GRANTING THE MANOR OF BAMPTON TO WILLIAM 

DE VALENCE. 


I 

Among the Records in the custody of the Master of the Rolls, pursuant to Stat. 1 and 2 Viet., 


128 


HISTORY OF BAMPTON. 


cap 94 ,and preserved iu Die Tower of London ; to wit, Charter-roll of the 33rd year of the reign 
of kingJHenry the Third, raemb: 5, it is thus contained • 


CHART A PRO WIL- 
L1ELMO DE VAL- 
ENTIA. 


Rex archie pi scopiSj &c. salutem. Sciatis nos ded- 
issc, concessisse, et liac cliarta nostra confirmasse, 
dilccto fratri et fideli nostro, Williemo de Valentia, 
totum manerium nostrum de BAMPTON, cum liun- 
dredo, dominicis, homagiis, reditibus, villenagiis ct omnibus aliis pertinentiis suis 
sine aliquo retinemento, exceptis terris cum pertinentiis quasprius dederamus Hu- 
berto Pugeys in eodem manerio pro triginta libratis terra;, cujus servitium et 
homagium dedimus eidem Willielmo, una cum custodia terrae ct liaeredum 
ipsius Iluberti, post mortem suam, habendum ct tenendum eidem Willielmo et 
haeredibus suis de uxore sua procreatis, bene ct in pace, quiete et integre cum om¬ 
nibus libertatibus et liberis consuetudinibus ad eandem terrain pertinentibus, pro 
triginta et septeni libratis terra; in partem satisfaction^ quingentarum libratarum 
terra;, quas ei per chartam nostram dare concessimus. Ita quod tantum decidat 
de quingentis libris, quas annuatim percipit, ad Scaccarium nostrum, faciendo inde 
nobis et haeredibus nostris servitia inde debita et consueta. Ita quod si forte nos 
vel haeredes nostri prsedictam terrain reddere volucrimus rectis haeredibus per 
voluntatem nostram vel per pacem, non disseisiemus praedictum Willielmum vel 
lueredes suos de uxore sua procreatos, nec disseisiri faciemus, de pracdicta terra, 
donee eis rationabile leccrimus excliambium ad valentiam praedictae terra;. 
Quarc volumus et firmiter praecipimus pro nobis et haeredibus nostris quod prae- 
dictus Willielmus et haeredes sui de uxore sua procrcati habeant etteneant totum 
praedictum Manerium de BAMPTON cum Iiundredo, dominicis, homagiis, redi- 
tibus, villenagiis, et omnibus aliis pertinentiis suis, sine aliquo retinemento, excep¬ 
tis terris cum pertinentiis, quas prius dederamus lluberto Pugeys in eodem Mane¬ 
rio pro triginta libratis terrae, cujus servitium et homagium dedimus eidem Wil- 
lielmo una cum custodia terrae et liaredum ipsius Iluberti post mortem suam, bene 
et in pace, quiete et integre, cum omnibus libertatibus ct liberis consuetudinibus ad ^ 
eandem terrain pertinentibus, pro triginta ct septem libratis terrae in partem satis- [ 
factionis quingentarum libratarum terrae , quas ei per chartam nostram dare con- 
cessimus. Ita quod tantum decidat de quingentis libris, quas annuatim percipit, 
ad Scaccarium nostrum, faciendo inde nobis et haeredibus nostris servitia inde, 
debita et consueta. Ita quod si forte nos vel lueredes nostri pnedictam terrain 
reddeie volucrimus rectis haeredibus, per voluntatem nostram vel per pacem, non 
disseisiemus praedictum Willielmum vel lueredes suos de uxore sua piocreatos, nee 
disseisiri faciemus, de proedicta terra, donee eis rationabile feeerimus excambium 
ad valentiam pracdicta; terrae, sicut praedictum esfc. 

His testibus venerabili patre F. Londincnsi episcopo, Willielmo de Fortibus 
comite Albemarliae, Johanne Maunsel praeposito Beverlaci, Radulpho filio Nico¬ 
lai, Roberto Passelewe, arcliidiacono Lewensi, Galfrido de Langelc, Willielmo 
de Bello-monte, Willielmo Gemini, ct aliis. Data per manuin nostram apud West 
monasterium Xo die Martii. 


V. INQUISITION: COPY OF THE HUNDRED-ROLL OF 
BAMPTON AND ASTON, 7th EDW. I, [A. I). 1278-9]. 

From the Rolls in the Tower. 


1IUNDREDUM DE 
BAMPTON. 


Inquisitio facta coram domino Sampsone Foliotte, 
domino Fuleon de liny cote, ct sociis secum electis* 
anno regis Edwardi septimo,et duodecimjuratis,vide¬ 
licet domino Johanne Maudut, domino Matia dc Ratille, domino Alano de 
Craule, Roberto de Eleford, Roberto le Paumer de Weldc, Ricardo de Ilanton 







[A. D. 1279] 


APPENDIX, NO. V. 


129 


HAMPTON 

POGEYS 


Stephano Frankeland do Wcldc, Henrico do HcuptcsCye, ltadulfo do Fileking, 
lloberto de Stoke, Nicliolao Biron dc Clanefend; et Johanne de Fifhyde, super 
articulis a prmdietis justitiis, praedictis duodecim deliberatis, scilicet inquirere 
oportet &c. 

Qui dicunt super sacramentum, quod dominus VVillelnius 
BAMPTON d(j Valentia tenet in Bampton duas carucatas terra de domi¬ 
no rege in capite, et uuam carucatam terra quam liabuit do 
Johanne filio Paulini : et idem Johannes tenuit dictam carucatam terra do domi- 
nico domini regis : et liabet libertatem et liberum hundredum forinsecus, ita quod 
liabebit leturnum omnium brevium domini regis qua vicecomiti diriguntur et 
qua libei taten illam consuevit: et liabet mercatum et feriam : et liabuit pradic- 
tum tenementum de dono llenrici regis, patris Edwardi regis qui nunc est, 
cum omnibus libertatibus pranominatis ; sod ignorant quo servitio nec quo 
warranto. 

Dominus Robertus Pogeys tenet in Bampton in dominico, ut 
in dominico, unam carucatam terra do domino Willelmo do 
Yalentia, et reddit eidem per annum octodocim denarios vcl 
unum ensem, etidem Williolmus tenet do domino rego in capite; 
liabet etiam libertatem visi franciplegii de hominibus suis; et homines sui debent 
apparere in curia domini Willelmi de Valencia, ad proximam curiam post fostum 
sancti Michaelis sine occasione. 

Item idem Robertus liabet in eadem unam carucatam terra dc perquisitione 
dc diversis, videlicet 40 acreas dc domino Milonc do Hasting : et idem M lo 
tenuit de Benedicto de Blaclium et idem do domino rege: item dimidium virgata 
tcria do Johanne Paulino et idem do domino Willelmo do Valance, et idem Wil- 
lelmus de domino rege in capite. 

Ricardus Wolwy tenet in Aston unum messuagium, et unam 
ASTON virgatam terra de domino Roberto Pogeys, et reddit per 

SERVIT1A annum eidem pro reditu 4 solidos et 4 denarios, oh: 

pro operc et servitio 8 solidos et 0 denarios qua quia 

taxantur. 

Willelmus Wolwy, Robertus Bobbe, Ricardus lo Paumer, Thomas Balwithe, 
Williolmus Orchard cum Waltcro Martin, Johannes Hemming, Engelys relicta 
Johannis Gilbert!, Emma Stephanu., Ricardus Ayline, Matilda do la Garston, 
Willelmus do la Bane, Ricardus Hogcnon, Matilda do Me, Walterius North, 
Isabella Lunett, Rogerus Midewintor, Walterus Ernald, Willelmus North, Hugo 
Halyday, Walterus Halyday, Rogerus Bolehebs, Williclmus King, cum Roberto 
Sofoul, Ricardus Ketse, Agnes Faber, Willelmus Newman, Hugo Bulbebs, Hugo 
Jurdan, quilibet praescriptorum tenet consimile tenementum in Aston do 
dicto Roberto Pogeys pro consimili servitio, sicut Ricardus Wolwy pra?- 
scriptus. 

Ricardus Saleman tenet in codem unum messuagium, et unam virgatam terrae, 
de eodem, et reddit per annum eidem 5 solidos et G denarios pro reditu; pro 
opere et servitio 7 solidos et 9 denarios, ob quae &c. 

Willelmus Jurdan, Philippus Orchard, Rogerus Lete, Walterius Edwich, 
Willelmus a la freyne, Thomas Piscator, Rogerus Dod, cum ltogero French, 
Thomas dc la Cote, quilibet praescriptorum tenet consimile tenementum in 
Aston de eodem pro consimili servitio faciendo eidem, sicut Ricardus 
Saleman. 

Robertus dc la Cote tenet in eadem unum messuagium et unam virgatam tome 
de eodem et reddit per annum eidem 4 solidos, ob. 

Willelmus de la Cote tenet in eodem unum messuagium, et unam virgatam 
terra?, de eodem, et reddit per annum eidem 4 solidos, ob. 

Matilda relicta < arectaruin, tenet in eodem unum messuagium et dimidium 
virgata? terra? de eodem, et reddit per annum eidem pro reditu 4 solidos et 5 de- 
narios pro opere pra?dicto, ob quae qpia taxantur. 


HISTORY OF HAMPTON. 


130 

Abbas Eygnfshmniensis] tenet in Aston unum messuagium 
LIBRI et unam virgatam terne tie Roberto Pogevs, et reddit per 

TENENTES annum domino Roberto Pogeys 5 solidos et 2 dena- 
rios. 

Idem abbas tenet unam virgatam terroe in puram et pcrpetuam eleemosynam ; 
unde, nescimus quo warranto. 

Rogerus Doyly tenet in villa de Hampton .4 carucatas terroe, 
BAMPTON in dominico, de domino Hugone de Plec. et idem Hugo de 
domino regein capite, et delict scutagium et habct liberam pisca- 
turam in tribus gurgitibus : et habet in bosco quae vocatur Boynale, liusbote et 
heybote. 


VI. PLEAS OF ASSIZE HELD AT OXFORD, IN THE 13th YEAR 

OF EDWARD I, [A. D. 1285]. 

From the Rolls at Carlton Ride. 

Placita de juratis et assizis coram Salomone dc Roffs, Ricardo de 
Boy lurid, Roberto Fulcon, Galfrido de Picheford et Rogero Loveday, 
justiciariis itinerantibus apud Oxford in crastino Saudi llilurii, [Jan. 14] 
anno regni regis Edwardi tertiodecimo. Fulcon. 


ROTULO II. 

Placita domini regis apud Oxoniam... Fulcon. 


Willielmus de Valentia summonitus fuit ad respondendum domino regi, quo 
warranto clamat habere returnum brevium, placitum dc namio vetito, furcam, et 
emendum assise panis et cervisiae factae in Hampton, quae ad coronam et dignita¬ 
tem suam pertinent et debentur. 

Et Willielmus vcnit, et dicit, quod dominus Henricus rex, pater domini 
regis nunc, dedit ei maneriun cum hundredo, et cum omnibus libertatibus ad ea 


pertinentibus, ad quae manerium, et hundredum, furca et emend, assise panis et 
cervisiae factae pertinent per preedictam chartam quam profert, et quae hoc testatur 
et quoad retornum brevium et placitum de namio vetito, dicit quod quiuam comes 
Bononiensis tenuit praedictum manerium cum hundredo de domino Henrrco rege, 
patre domini regis nunc, et dicit quod eo tempore quo idem comes tenuit mane¬ 
rium praedictum cum hundredo, habuit retornum brevium et tenuit placitum de 
namio vetito, tanquam pertinentia ad lmndredum praedictum: et postea prce- 
dicta manerium et lmndredum deveneruut ad manus ipsius domini Henrici regis 
tanquam escaeta sua: idem dominus Henricus rex, eo tempore quo ea tenuit in 
manu sua, tenuit placitum de namio vetito et liabuit retornum brevium in eisdem, 
tanquam ad eadem manerium et lmndredum pertinentia: et idem dominus 
Henricus rex postmoduin manerium et hundredum cum pertinentiis eideni 
Willelmo dedit et concessit, tenendum sibi et heredibus suis de uxore sua 
procreatis, de ipso domino rege et haeredibus suis, et profert chartam ipsius do¬ 
mini Henrici regis, quae testatur quod idem dominus Henricus rex dedit et 
concessit cidem Willelmo praedictum manerium cum hundredo, dominicis 
liomagiis, reditibus, villenagiis, et omnibus aliis pertinentiis, sine aliquo retine- 
mento, exccptis quibusdam terris quas prius dedit Huberto de Bugeys in eodem 
manerio, habendum et tenendum eidem Willelmo et haeredibus suis de uxore 
sua procreatis, bene et in pace, quiete et integre cum omnibus libertatibus et liberis 
consuetudinibus ad eadem pertinentibus, et dicit quod eo warranto habet ipse 
retornum brevium, et clamat habere placitum de namio vetito. 1 

Et Willelmus de Giselham, qui sequitur pro domino rege, dicit quod habere 


| 










APPENDIX, NO VI. 


131 


returnum brevium, et tenere placitum de namio vetito pertinet ad coronam 
et dignitatem domini regis, et quas libertates nemo elamave potest sine warranto 
speciali domini regis, vel antecessorum suorum, et dieit quod in praedicta charta, 
quam praedictus Willelmus de Valentia profert, nulla fit mentio de aliquo retor- 
no brevium vel placitorum de namio vetito. Unde petit judicium pro domino 
rege. 


[ROTULO IX, IN DORSO.] 

De juratis et assisis apud Oxon. &c.Fulcon. 

Willelmus de Valencia, Rogerius de Engepenne, Johannes le bedel de Bamp- 
ton, et Rogerus de Weston, summoniti fuerunt ad responsum Ceciliae de Musce- 
gros, de placito quare praedicti Willelmus et alii averia ipsius Ceciliae ceperunt et 
mjuste detinuerunt, et cur et unde queritur quod quum praedicti Willelmus et alii, 
die Sabbati proxima post festum Sancti flilarii, anno regni regis nunc undecimo, 
ceperunt quatuor jumenta ipsius Ceciliae in villa de Alvescote et ea fugaverunt us¬ 
que ad manerium ipsius Willielmi de Bampton, et ea ibidem detinuerunt contra 
vadium et plegium, a praedicto die usque diem Veneris proximum ante festum 
Sancti Johannis ante portam Latinam, anno supradicto : quod deliberata fuerunt 
per breve domini regis ad damnum ipsius Ceciliae centum librarum et incle pro- 
duxit settam, &c. 

Et Willelmus per attornum suum venit et omnes alii venerunt et defendunt vim 
et cur et quando, &c- et bene cognoscunt quod ipsi ceperunt praedicta averia et 
juste, quia dicunt quod tenentes ipsius Ceciliae de Alvescot et Aston non vene¬ 
runt ad visum franciplegii a:l curiam ipsius Ceciliae de Alvescote et Aston, ubi bal- 
livi dicti Willelmi de Valencia semel in anno post festum Sancti Michaelis tenere 
debent praedictum visum, amerciaverunt ipsi tenentes praedicti Ceciliae pro defal¬ 
cation ibus suis, et ea ratione pro hujus modi amerciamentis distringere fecit, per 
averia praedicta, et postea concordati sunt et praedicta Cecilia dat dimidium marcae 
pro licentia concordandi, et est concordia tabs quod praedicti Willelmus et Cecilia 
bene cogn. quod ballivi ipsius Willelmi venire debent ad visum francipleg. tenend. 
de tenentibus ipsius Ceciliae de Alvescote et Aston semel in anno, scilicet post 
festum Sancti Michaelis, et quod ballivi ipsius Willelmi habere debent pro visu 
praedicto 12 denarios tantum, et praedicta Cecilia et hceredes sui omnia alia amer- 
ciamenta de tenentibus venientibus ad praedictum visum habere et percipere 
debent, &c. 

[ROTULO XVI.] 

Dominus rex per Willelmum de (liselham, qui sequitur pro eo, petit versus 
Robertum Pogeys 40 libratas terrae cum pertinentiis in Bampton, quas domino 
regi injuste deforcaverat &c. etunde dieit. quod dominus Henricus rex, pater domini 
regis nunc, tempore pacis fuit inde in seisina capiendi inde explete ad valentiam &c. 

Et Robektus venit et defendit jus domini regis ut deforcaverat et jure &c. et 
bene cogn. seisinam domini Henrici regis patris domini regis nunc, sed dieit quod 
idem dominus Henricus rex dedit praedictam terrain cuidam Huberto de Pogeys 
patri ipsius Roberti, cujus liaeres ipse est, per chartam suam quam profert et quae 
testatur quod dominus Henricus rex, pater domini regis nunc, dedit praedicto 
Huberto praedictam terrain cum pertinentiis, habendam et tenendam sibi et 
liaeredibus suis et suis assignatis in perpetuum. ldeo ad judicium &c. 

[ROTULO XXV]. 

Placita coronae coram Salomone de lloffs, &c. 

18 


Fulcon. 






132 


HISTORY OF BAMPTON. 


[ROTULO XLIX IN DORSO.] 

Hundred, de Bampton vcnit pro XII. 

[ROTULO LI.] 

Adhuc de hundredo de Bampton.Fulcon. 

De libertatibus dicunt quod Willelmus de Valentia tenet hundrcdum de 
Bampton quod valet per annum C solidis, et clamat habere retornum et extrac- 
ta brevium et placitorum de namio vetito, et habet furcam, pillariam et tumbe- 
rellam et emend, assise panis et cervici® et feriam in vigilia et in die Assump- 
tionis beat® Mariae, et mercatum per quemlibet diem Mercurii, et in quaiibet 
septimana, nesciunt quo warranto. Et super hoc venit Willelmus de Giselham 
qui sequitur pro domino rege, et dicit quod habet brevia de Quo warranto su¬ 
per hujusmodi libertates, et similiter Robertus de Grey habet in villa de 
Herdewick visum franci plegii, furcam, tumberellam, et emend, assisam panis et 
cervisiae, et Johannes Maudut, Osbertus Giffard, Johannes de Bosco, et Ro¬ 
bertus de Grey, clamant habere mercatum in manerio de Standlake singulis 
septimanis per diem Veneris et similiter in eodem manerio habet furcam, tum¬ 
berellam, pillariam, et emendum assis. panis et cerviciae, nesciunt quo warranto. 
Ideo praedictae libertates, quoad praedictos Robertum de Grey et alios, capiantur 
in manum domini regis. &c. 


VII. INQUISITION OF KING EDWARD II, DATED NOV. 28, AND 

DEC. 1312. 


Among the Records in the custody of the Master of the Rolls pursuant to Stat. 1 and 2 Viet. cap. 94, 
and preserved in the Tower of London ; to wit, Inquisition of the 6tli year of King Edward the Second 
No. 70, it is thus contained : 

EdWARDUS, DEI GRATIA REX ANGLIAS. DOMINUS HIBERNIyE, ET DUX AQUITANNI AS 
DILECTO ET FIDELI SUO ROGERO DE WELLESWORTH ESCAETORI SUO CITRA TRENTAM 

salutem. Mandamus vobis quod, per sacramentum proborum et legalium homi- 
num de balliva vestra, per quos rei veritas melius sciri poterit, diligenter inquiratis 
si sit ad damnum vel prasjudicium nostrum aut aliorum, si concedamus dilecto et 
fideli nostro, Roberto Fogeys, quod ipse manerium suum de Estdels cum pertinen- 
tiis, et unam carucatam terr®, et tres acras bosci, cum pertinentiis, in Chatham 
juxta Roffam, in comitatu Kanciae, qu® de nobis tenentur in capite, ut dicitur, 
dare possit et concedere Thom® Fogeys et Benedict® uxori ejus, habenda et ten- 
enda eisdem Thom® et Benedict®, et h®redibus ipsius Thom®, de corpore suo 
legitime procreatis, de nobis et h®redibus nostris per servitia inde debita et con- 
sueta in perpetuum. Et si idem Thomas obierit sine h®rede de corpore suo legi¬ 
time procreato, tunc pr®dicta, manerium, terra, et boscus, cum pertinentiis, ad 
pr®fatum Robertum et li®redes suos integre revertantur,tenenda de nobis eth®re- 
dibus nostris per servitia pr®dicta in perpetuum, necne. Et si sit ad damnum vel 
pr®judicium nostrum aut aliorum, tunc ad quod damnum et quod pr®judicium 
nostrum, et ad quod damnum et quod pr®judicium aliorum, et quorum, et qualiter, 
et quo modo, et si pr®dicta, manerium, terra, et boscus, de nobis teneantur in ca¬ 
pite, sicut pr®dictunr est, an de alio, et si de nobis, tunc per quod servitium, qua¬ 
liter, et quo modo, et si de alio, tunc de quo, vel de quibus, et per quod servi¬ 
tium, et qualiter, et quo modo, et quantum valeant per annum, in omnibus 
exitibus, juxta verum valorem eorundem. Et qu® terr® et qil® tenementa 
eidern Roberto remaneant, ultra donationem et concessionem pr®dictas, et ubi, 
et de quo, vel de quibus teneantur; utruin videlicet de nobis, an de alio, et 
si de nobis, tunc per quod servitium, et qualiter, et quo modo, et si de alio, 
tunc de quo, vel de quibus, et per quod servitium, et qualiter, et quo modo, et 
quantum valeant per annum, in omnibus exitibus. 



APPENDIX, NO VIII. 


133 


[A. D. 1327]. 


Et Inquisitionem inde distincte et aperte factam, nobis sub sigillo vestro 
et sigillis eorum, per quos facta fuerit, sine dilatione mittatis et hoc 
breve. 

Teste me ipso apud Wyndesore, XXVIII die Novembris, anno regni nostri 
sexto.Jar.per ipsum regem. 


KANCIA. 

Inquisitio facta coram Escaetore domini regis apud Estdelse, die Martis proxi- 
ma post festum Sancti Nicholai, anno regni regis Edwardi sexto, per Johannem 
de Suthewyk, Nicholaum de Woldeliam, Robertum de Betlescombe, Gilbertum 
Gildewyne, Moysem Lacy, Ricardum le Forstier, Johannem Rogier, Johannem 
atte Halle, Clementem le Chandelier, Robertum le Hayward, Rogerum le Chan¬ 
delier, et Gilbertum le Hayward. Qui dicunt per sacramentum sunm, quod non 
est ad damnum vel praejudicium domini regis, aut aliorurn, si rex concedat Ro¬ 
berto Pogeys, quod ipse manerium suum de Estdelse cum pertinentiis, et unarn 
carucatam terrae, et tres acras bosci cum pertinentiis, in Chatham juxta Roffam, 
in comitatu Kanciae, dare possit et concedere Thomas Pogeys et Benedictae uxori 
ejus, habenda et tenenda eisdem Thomae et Benedictae, et haeredibus ipsius Thomas, 
de corpore suo legitime procreatis : et, si idem Thomas obierit sine haerede de cor- 
pore legitime procreato, tunc praedicta, manerium, terra, et boscus, cum pertin¬ 
entiis ad praefatutn Robertum et haeredes suos integre revertantur, tenenda de 
domino rege et haeredibus suis per servitia inde debita et consueta, in perpetuum. 
Et dicunt quod praedictum manerium de Estdelse non tenetur de domino rege 
immediate, sed tenetur de Nicholao de Merewerth, per servitium duorum feodo- 
rum Militum et dimidii, et valet per annum in omnibus exitibus XX libras: et 
dicunt quod praedictae carucata terrae, et tres acrae bosci, cum pertinentiis, in 
Chatham tenentur de domino rege, ut de castro domini regis de Ledes per servi¬ 
tium quartae partis feodi unius militis ; quod quidem castrum, cum pertinentiis, 
Margareta regina Angliae tenet ad terminum vitae suae ex assignatione domini 
Edwardi quondam regis Angliae, patris regis nunc, et valent terra ilia, boscus, per 
annum in omnibus exitibus X marcas. Dicunt etiam quod remanent praefato 
Roberto, ultra donationem et concessionem praedictas, manerium de Stokepogeys 
in comitatu Buckingham, quod tenetur de Johanne de Someri per servitium miii- 
tare, et valet per annum, in omnibus exitibus, C marcas, et medietas manerii de 
Bampton in comitatu Oxoniae, quae tenetur de domino Adamaro de Valencia, 
comite Pembroke, per servitium militare, et valet per annum, in omnibus exiti¬ 
bus, C marcas. 

In cujus rei testimonium praedicti Jurati huic Inquisitioni sigilla sua apposue- 
runt. 


VIII. INQUISITION OF KING EDWARD II, DATED 
Dec. 9. and 20, A. D. 1327. 

Among the Records in the Custody of the Master of the Rolls, pursuant to Stat. 1 and 2 Viet., cap. 
94, and preserved in the Tower of London, to wit, Inquisition of the 20th year of the reign of Iving 
Edward the Second, No 11, it is thus contained. 

Edwardus, Dei gratia Rex Angliae, et Dominus Hiberniae, dilecto sibi Thomae 
de Harpedene, escaetori suo in comitatibus Wiltes, Southampton, Oxoniae, Berks,. 
Bedford, et Buckingham, Salutem. Mandamus vobis, quod per sacramentum 
proborum et legalium hominum de balliva vestra, per quos lei veiitas melius 
sciri poterit, diligenter inquiratis, si sit ad damnum vel praejudicium nostrum 
aut aliorurn, si concedamus dilecto et fideli nostro, Ricardo falebot juniori et 




HISTORY OF BAMPTON, 


134 


Elizabethan uxori ejus quod ipsi de maneriis suis de Policote in dicto comitatu 
Buckingham, Bampton in dicto comitatu Oxoniae, et Colingburn in dicto comi¬ 
tatu Wiltes, cum pertinentiis, quae de nobis tenentur in capite, ut dicitur, feoftare 
possint dilectum et fidelem nostrum Gilbertum Talebot, et 'rhomam fratrem 
ejus, habendis et tenendis sibi et haeredibus suis, de nobis et haeredibus nos- 
tris, per servitia inde debita et consueta, in perpetuum. Ita quod iidem Gilbertus 
et Thomas, habita inde plena et pacifica seisina, dare possint et concedere man- 
eria praedicta, cum pertinentiis, praefatis Ricardo et Elizabetbae, habenda et ten- 
enda sibi et haeredibus de corporibus suis exeuntibus, de nobis et haeredibus 
nostris, per servitia praedicta, in perpetuum : et si idem Ricardus et Elizabetha 
obierint sine haerede de corporibus suis exeunte, tunc maneria praedicta, cum 
pertinentiis, rectis haeredibus praedicti Ricardi remaneant, tenenda de nobis 
et haeredibus nostris, per servitia praedicta, in perpetuum, necne : et si sit ad 
damnum vel praejudicium nostrum aut aliorum, tunc ad quod damnum, et quod 
piaejudicium nostrum, et ad quod damnum, et quod praejudicium aliorum, et 
quorum, et qualiter, et quo modo, et utrum maneria praedicta, cum pertinentiis, 
teneantur de nobis in capite, sicut praedictum est, an de alio; et si de nobis, tunc 
per quod servitium, et qualiter, et quo modo; et si de alio, tunc de quo, vel de 
quibus, et per quod servitium, et qualiter, et quo modo, et quantum valeant 
per annum in omnibus exitibus, juxta verum valorem eorundem, et si quae terrae 
et tenementa praefatis Ricardo et Elizabetbae remaneant ultra maneria praedicta, et 
ubi, et de quo, vel de quibus teneantur, utrum videlicet de nobis, an de alio, et si 
de nobis, tunc per quod servitium, et qualiter,] et quo modo, et si de alio, tunc 
de quo, vel de quibus, et per quod servitium, et qualiter, et quo modo, et 
quantum valeant per annum in omnibus exitibus. Er inquisitionem, inde dis- 
tincte et aperte factam, nobis sub sigillo vestro et sigillis eorum, per quos 
facta fuerit, sine dilatione mittatis et hoc breve. 

Teste me ipso apud Kenilworth, IX die Decembris, anno regni nostri 
vicesimo. 

[In dorso : per custodem sigilli.] 


OxONIA. 


Inquisitio capta coram Thotna de Harpeden, escaetore domini regis in comi- 
tatibus Wiltes, Southampton, Oxoniae, Berks, Bedford, et Buckingham ; vicesimo 
die Decembris, apud Bampton, anno regni regis Edwardi filii regis Edwardi 
vicesimo, per sacramentum Johannis Ilicheman, Henrici de Fifhide, Roberti 
de Brittelee, Johannis Bremond, Johannis de Galveston, Johannis de Everestoke, 
Nicholai Fynh., Johannis Bryn, Willielmi Dun, Johannis de Fernhull, Johannis 
de Levve, Adam le Rok., Johannis Muscath, et Nicholai Bilon. Qui dicun r 
super sacramentum suum, quod non est ad damnum nec praejudicium domini 
regis aut aliorum, licet dominus rex concedat Ricardo Tallebot, juniori, 1 et Eli- 
zabethae uxori ejus, quod ipsi de manerio de Bampton in comitatu Oxoniae, cum 
pertinentiis, feoffare possint Gilbertum Talbot et Thomam, fratrem ejus, habendo 
et tenendo sibi et haeredibus suis, de domino rege et haeredibus suis, per servitia 
inde debita et consueta, in perpetuum. Ita quod iidem Gilbertus et Thomas, 
habita inde plena et pacifica seisina, dare possint et concedere manerium prae¬ 
dictum, cum pertinentiis praefatis, Ricardo et Elizabetbae, habendum et tenendum, 
sibi, et haeredibus de corporibus suis exeuntibus, de domino rege et haeredibus 
suis, per servitia inde debita et consueta in perpetuum. Et si idem Ricardus 
et Elizabetha obierint sine haerede de corporibus suis exeunte, tunc praedictum 
manerium, cum pertinentiis rectis haeredibus praedicti Ricardi remaneat tenen¬ 
dum de domino rege et haeredibus suis per servitia praedicta in perpetuum. 

Dicunt etiam quod manerium de Bampton tenetur de domino rege in capite 
per homagium et fidelitatem, et per servitium unius feodi militis pro omni 
servitio. 

Item dicunt quod praedictum manerium de Bampton valet per annum, in 








i 








APPENDIX NO IX. 


A. I). 1329.] 


135 


omnibus exitibus, juxta verum valorem ejusdem, quadiaginta libras. Item 
dicunt quod r.ullae terrse seu tenementa remanent praefatis Ricardo et Elizabetha? 
in comitatu Oxoniae ultra manerium praedictum de Baa pton. 

In cujusrei testimonium praedicti jurati sigilla sua apposuerunt. 


IX. INQUISITION OF KING EDWARD III, DATED JAN. 26, 

A. D. 1329. 

Among the Records in the Custody of the Master of the Rolls, pursuant to Stat. 1 and 2 Viet., 
cap. 94, and preserved in the Tower of London, to wit, Inquisition of the 2nd year of the reign 
of King Edward the Third, [1st nrs.] No. 37, it is thus contained. 

Edwardus, Dei gratia rex Angliae, Dominus Hibernia?, et dux Aquitanniae, 
dilecto et fideli suo Simoni de Bereford., escaetori suo ultra Trentam, salutem. 
Quia Robertus de Eleford, qui de nobis tenuit in cap te, diem clausit extre¬ 
mum, ut accepimus, vobis mandamus, quod omnes terras et tenementa, de qui- 
bus idem Robertus fuit seisitus, in dominico suo, ut de feodo, in balliva vestra, 
die quo obiit, sine dilatione capiatis in manum nostram, et ea salvo custodiri faci- 
atis, donee aliud inde praeceperimus. Et per sacramentum proborum et legalium 
hominum de balliva vestra, per quos rei veritas melius sciri poterit, diligenter in- 
quiratis, quantum terrae idem Robertus tenuit de nobis in capite in balliva 
vestra, die quo obiit, et quantum de aliis, et per quod servitium, et quantum ter¬ 
rae illae valeant per annum in omnibus exitibus, et quis propinquior haeres ejus 
sit, et cujus aetatis. Et inquistionem, inde distincte et aperte factam, nobis sub 
sigillo vestro, et sigillis eorum per quos facta fuerit, sine dilatione mittatis, et hoc 
breve. 

Teste me ipso apud Eborum, XXVI die Januarii, anno regni nostri se- 
cundo. 


[In dorso : Oxcnia] 

OxONIA. 

Inquisitio capta coram Simone Bereforde, Escaetore domini regis citra Tren¬ 
tam, apud Elevorde, quartodecimo die Februarii, anno legni regis Edwardi Tertii 
post conquestum secundo, juxta tenorem brevis domini regis huic Inquisitioni 
consuti, per sacramentum Johannis de Carsewelle, Stephani de Crotebrugg, Hen- 
rici de Graftone, Johannis de Erlestoke, Johannis de Stoke, Henrici de Fifide, Jo- 
hannis de Fernhulle, Johannis Richeman, Johannis Evermond, Adae le Parker,Ri- 
cardi Stonhard, Johannis de Lyvorde, et Johannis de Lewe. Qui dicunt 
quod Robertus de Elevorde obiit die Martis proxima ante festum Sanctorum 
Fabiani et Sebastiani, seisitus in dominico suo, ut de feodo, de quibusdam tene- 
mentis, cum pertinentiis, in Tote et Astone, in comitatu Oxoniie, et est ibi unum 
messuagium, quod valet per annum XX denarios. Item sunt ibidem 52 acrae ter¬ 
rae in dominico, quae valent per annum, 8 solidos 8 denarios, pretium acrae 2 
denarii. Item sunt ibidem G acrae prati, quae valent per annum 6 solidos, 
pretium acrae 12 denarii. Item sunt ibidem quinque Nativi, qui reddunt per 
annum 14 solidos solvendos ad quatuor anni tertninos, videlicet ad festum 
Sancti Michaelis, Sancti Thomae apostoli, Annunciationis beatae Mariae, et fes¬ 
tum Sancti Johannis Baptistae, per aequales portiones. Et opera eorundem Nati- 
vorum, ad prata fulcanda et blada metenda, valent per annum 2 solidos 11 
denaiios. Item sunt ibidem tres Coterelli, qui reddunt per annum 6 solidos 
solvendos ad praedicta festa, per aequales portiones. Item dicunt, quod prae- 
dicta terra; et tenementa in Cote et Astone tenentur de domino rege in capite 
per servitium essendi cum arcu et sagittis, sive aliqua alia armatura, in qua- 


136 


HISTORY OF BAMPTON. 


libet guerra domini regls, infra regnum snum, per quadraginta dies ad cos- 
tum suum proprium. Item dicunt quod idem Robertus tenuit die supradicto 
in Lewe, in praedicto comitatu Oxoni®, duos liberos tenentes, qui reddunt 
per annum 8 solidos 9 denarios solvendos ad festum Sancti Mich®lis 4 soli- 
dos, 9 denarios, et ad festum Annunciationis beat® Marine Virginis 4 soli¬ 
dos, pro omni servitio. Item sunt ibidem duo Nativi, qui reddunt per annum 
6 solidos, solvendos ad testa Sancti Thomae Apostoli, Annunciationis beatae 
Mariae, et Sancti Johannis Baptistae, per aequales portioned Et opera eorun- 
dem duorum Nativorum, ad prata falcanda et blada metenda, valent 16 
denarios. 

Item dicunt quod praedicta terrae et tenementa in Lewe tenentur de domino rege 
in capite, per servitium portandi unum ostorium coram domino rege, quum domi- 
nus rex voluerit, ad costos domini regis. Item dicunt, quod idem Robertus tenuit 
die supradicta, apud Elevorde, in praedicto comitatu Oxoniae, unum messuagium 
cum gardino, qiue valent per annum 2 denarios. Item sunt ibidem 40 acrae terrae 
in dominico, quae valent per annum 6 solidos, 8 denarios, pretium acrae 2 dena¬ 
rii. Item sunt ibidem sex acrae prati, quae valent per annum 6 solidos, pretium 
acrae 12 denarii. Item sunt ibidem tres Coterelli, qui reddunt per annum 4 soli¬ 
dos, 1 denarium, solvendos ad praedicta quatuor festa, per aequales portiones, 
et opera eorundem, ad blada metenda, valent per annum 10 denarios. Item 
dicunt quod praedicta, terrae et tenementa, tenentur de Johanne de Grey, Roberto 
de Morby, et Rolando de Hastings, per servitium 10 solidorum per annum. Item 
dicunt quod Robertus de Elevorde, Alius Roberti de Elevorde defuncti, est pro- 
pjnquior haeres ejus : et est aetatis viginti quinque annorum, et amplius. 

In cujus rei testimonium praedicti jurati huic Inquisitioni sigilla sua apposue- 
runt. 

Data die, anno, et loco, supradictis. 


X. GRANT OF FREE-WARREN TO RICHARD TALBOT, DATED 
14 EDWARD III, APRIL 10, A. D. 1311. 

Among the Records in the custody of the Master of the Rolls, pursuant to Stat. 1 and 2 Viet., j 
cap. 94, and preserved in the Tower of London, to wit, Charter-Roll of the 14th year of the reign of 
King Edward the Third, No 37, it is thus contained. 

PRO RICARDO Rex eisdem, [archiepiscopis, episcopis, arbatibus, 
TALEBOl' DE prioribus, comitibus, baronibus, justitiariis, vicecomi- 
MARENNA. tibus, pr;epositis, ministris et omnibus ballivis et 
fidelibus suis] salutem. Sciatis nos de gratia nostra speciali concessisse, et 
hac cliarta nostra confirmasse dilecto et fideli nostro Ricardo Talebot, quod ipse 
et haeredes sui in perpetuum liabeant liberam warennam, in omnibus dominicis } 
terris suis de Bampton, in comitatu Oxoniae, et I’olycote in comitatu Bucking¬ 
ham, ac Godrvch Castel in marehiis Walliae, dum tamen terrae ill® non sint | 
infra metas forest® nostr®. Ita quod nullus intret terras illas ad fugandum in i 
eis, vel ad aliquid capiendum, quod ad warennam pertineat, sine licentia et 
voluntate ipsius Ricardi, vel h®redum suorum, super forisfacturam nostram 
decern librarum. Quare volunms &c. Dum tamen &c. Ita &c. His testibus, 
Venerabilibus Patribus J. Cantuariensi archiepiscopo, totius Angli® primate, 
R. Dunelmensi et S. Eliensi episcopis, Johanne de Warenna comite Surri®’ i 
Willielmo de Bohun comite Northampton, Henrico de Percy, Johanne Darcy ' 
senescallo hospitii nostri, et aliis. 

Data per manum nostram apud Westmonasterium, Xo die Aprilis TPer breve ) 
de private sigillo.] F L 


t 










APPENDIX NO. VIII. 


137 


• j 


XL INQUISITION OF 30th EDW. Ill, OCT. 30 AND NOW 20, 

A. D. 1357. 

Among the Records in the custody of the Master of the Rolls, pursuant to Stat. 1 and 2 Viet. cap. 
94, and preserved in the Tower of London; to wit, Inquisition of the 30th year of the reign of King 
Edward the Third [1st nrs.] No. 51, it is thus contained : 

Edwardus, Dei gratia rex angliaj et Francis, et dominus Hibernia, di- 

LECTO SIBI JoHANNI LAUNDELS, ESCjETORI SUO IN COM1TATIBUS OxONIiE ET BERKS., 

salutem. Quia Rieardus Talbot, qui de nobis tenuit in capite, diem clausit ex¬ 
tremum, ut accepimus, tibi prsecipimus, quod omnes terras et tenementa, de qui- 
bus idem Rieardus fuit seisitus, in dominico suo ut de feodo, in balliva tua, die 
quo obiit, sine dilatione capias in manum nostram, et ea salvo custodiri facias, 
donee aliud inde praeceperimus. Et per sacramentum proborum et legalium 
hominum de balliva tua, per quos rei veritas melius sciri poterit, diligenter inqui- 
ras, quantum terrae idem Rieardus tenuit de nobis in capite, tam in dominico 
quam in servitio, in balliva tua, die quo obiit, et quantum de aliis, et per quod 
servitium, et quantum terrae illae valeant per annum in omnibus exitibus, et quis 
propinquior liaeres ejus sit et cujus aetatis. Et Inquisitionem, inde distincte et 
aperte tactam, nobis sub sigillo tuo, et sigillis eorum per quos facta fuerit, sine 
dilatione mittas et hoc breve. 

Teste me ipso apud Westmonasterium, XXX die Octobris, anno regni nostri 
Angliae tricesimo, regni vero nostri Franciae decimo septimo. Hauk. 

[In dorso] Executio etresponsio istius brevis patent in Inquisitione huic brevi 
consuta. 

Inquisitio facta apud Bampton coram Johanne Laundels escaetore domini regis 
in comitatu Oxoniae, vicesimo quinto die Novembris, anno regni regis Edwardi 
tertii a conquestu Angliae tricesimo, et Franciae decimo septimo, juxta tenorem 
brevis domini regis huic inquisitioni consuti, per sacramentum Radulphi de Frete- 

welle, Johannis Car de., Johannis Crok., Laurentii de la Penne, Jobannis de 

Stoke, Tbomae Turfray, Johannis Bernard, Stacii Rokaille, Rogevi Blaket, 
Willielmi Malyn, Jobannis Whytefeld, et Eliae atte Bolde. 

Qui dicunt, per sacramentum suum, quod Rieardus Talbot Chivaler non fuit 
seisitus in dominico suo, ut de feodo, die quo obiit, de aliquibus terris seu tene- 
mentis in comitatu praedicto, eo quod praedictus Rieardus Talbot, per licentiam 
domini regis, concessit Thomae Talbot clerico, Jolianni Carrew Chivaler et Johan- 
ni Laundels, sexto die Julii, anno regni praedicti regis Angliae vicesimo nono, 
manerium de Bampton cum pertinentiis in comitatu praedicto, habendum et ten¬ 
endum ad terminum vitae praedictorum Thomae Talbot, Jobannis Carrew et Jo¬ 
hannis Laundels de domino rege et haeredibus suis per servitia inde debita et 
consueta. Et dicunt quod praedictus Rieardus Talbot obiit XXIIIo die Octobris 
ultimo praeterito. Et dicunt quod Gilbertus Talbot filias ipsius liicardi Talbot 
est haeres ejus propinquior, aetatis XXIIII annorum et amplius. 

In cujus rei testimonium praedicti jurati huic Inquisitioni sigilla sua apposue- 
runt. Data die, loco, et anno supradictis. 


XII. INQUISITION OF THE 36tli OF EDW. Ill, NOV. 16, AND 

DEC. 21, A. D. 1365. 


Among the Records in the custody of the Master of the Rolls, pursuant to Stat. 1 and 2 Viet, 
cap. 94. and preserved in the Tower of London, to wit, Inquisition of the 36th year of the reign 
of King Edward the Third, p. 2, [1st nrs.] No. 54 (b), it is thus contained: 

Edwardus, Dei gratia Rex Angliae, dominus Hiberniae et Aquitanniae, dilecto 
sibi Johanni de Estbury Escaetori suo in comitatu Oxoniae, Salutem. Quia Tho- 






1.38 


HISTORY OF BAMPTON. 


mas Talbot clericus, qui de nobis tenuit in capite, diem clausit extremum, ut ac- 
cepimus, tibi praecipimus quod omnes terras et tenementa, de quibus idem Tho¬ 
mas fuit seis tus in dominico suo, ut de feodo, in balliva tue, die quo obiit, sine 
dilatione capias in manual nostram, et ea salvo custodiri facias donee aliud inde 
praeceperimus. Et per sacramentum proborum et legalium hominum de balliva 
tua, per quos rei veritas melius sciri poterit, diligenter inquiras quantum terra? 
idem Thomas tenuit de nobis in capite, tarn in dominico quam in servitio, in 
balliva tua, die quo obiit, et quantum de aliis, et per quod servitium, et quan¬ 
tum terrae illae valeant per annum, in omnibus exitibus, et quo die idem Thomas 
obierit, et quis propinquior haeres ejus sit, et cujus aetatis. Et Inquisiti- 
onem, inde distincte et aperte factam, nobis sub sigillo tuo, et sigillis eorum, per 
quos [facta] fuerit, sine dilatione mittas, et hoc breve. 

Teste me ipso apud Westmonasterium XVI die Novembris anno regni nostri 
tricesimo sexto. Burstall. 


[In dorso] 

Ego Johannes de Estbury, Escaetor domini regis in comitatu Oxoniae, ad istud 
breve vobis respondeo, prout patet in lnquisitione huic consuta. 

OxONIA. 

Inquisitio facta apud Bampton in comitatu Oxoniae, XXI die Decembris, 
anno regni regis Edwardi Tertii post conquestum tricesimo sexto, coram Johanne 
de Estbury, Escaetore domini regis in comitatu praedicto, virtute cujusdam bre¬ 
vis dicti domini regis, eidem Escaetori directi, et huic Inquisitioni consuti, per 
sacramentum Johannis Stokes, Johannis Chaumberleyn, Tliomae Batyn, Joannis 
Fernhull, Walteri Crok, Willielmo Lomenour, Johannis Child, Johannis Freman, 
Joh. Moschet, Johannis Lokyere, Ricardi atte Dich, et Joh. Deighe. Quidicunt 
quod Thomas Talbot, clericus, defunctus, non tenuit aliqua, terras seu tenementa 
in dominico suo, ut de feodo, de domino rege in capite, nec de aliis, in comitatu 
praedicto, die quo obiit. Sed dicunt quod idem Thomas tenuit ad terminum vitae 
suae, die quo obiit, nuper conjunction leoffatus cum Johanne de Carreu et Johanne 
Laundels, defunctis, ex dimissione Ricardi Talbot militis, defuncti, de haereditate 
Gilberti Talbot, filii praedicti Ricardi, adliuc superstitis, manerium de Bampton, 
cum pertinentiis in eodem comitatu de domino rege in capite, per servitium unius 
feodi militis, de licentia domini regis per chartam suam. In quo quidem manerio 
sunt diversa edificia, quae nihil valent per annum ultra reprisas domorum. Est 
ibidem unum gardinum, quod vailet per annum II solidos, et unum columbare 
quod valet per annum II solidos. Sunt ibidem tres carucatae terrae, continentes 
in se CXCVI acras, unde duae partes possunt quolibet anno seminari, et valet 
acra, quando seminatur, per annum IV denarios, et tertia pars nihil valet, quia 
jacet ad Warectum, et in communi, et ibidem LX acrae prati separalis, a festo 
Purificationis beatae Mariae usque faenum inde levatum, et postea in communi, 
et valet acra XII denarios per annum, et unum molendinum aquaticum, quod 
valet per annum XX solidos, et ibidem quaedam pastura separalis, a festo 
Annunciationis beatae Mariae usque festum Sancti Michaelis, quae valet per idem 
tempus XIII solidos, IV denarios ; et postea nihil valet, quia jacet in communi, 
et ibidem quidam reditus gallorum et gallinarum vocatus Chursh'et, qui valet per 
annum VI solidos, VIII denarios, solvendos ad festum Sancti Martini; et ibidem 
quidam reditus XL solidorum vocatus Candelmassyeve solvendus ad festum Pu¬ 
rificationis beatae Mariae, et ibidem quidam reditus V solidorum, vocatus liert- 
peny, solvendus ad festum Pentecostes. Et sunt ibidem diversi tenentes quorum 
reditus etservitia valent per annum XXVI libras II solidos, solvendi inde,ad festum 
Sancti Thomae Apostoli LXXI solidi, ad festum Annunciationis Beat® Mariae IV 
librae, XIII solidi, IV denarii, ad festum natalis beati Johannis Baptistae VI librae, 
XVII denarii, et ad festum Sancti Michaelis, XI librae, VIII denarii. Et visus 


139 


APPENDIX, NO XIII. 

Iranci plegii ibidem, ad terminos de Hockeday etSancti Micliaelis, valet C solidos. 
Et placita et perquisita hundred!, halmotse, tolneti, et mercati ibidem valent per 
annum XXXIII solidos, IV denarios. Et dicuntquod reversio dicti manerii de 
Bampton spectat ad praefatum Gilbertum Talbot, filium et haeredem prsefati 
llicardi Talbot defuncti, adhuc superstitem, et haeredes suos; qui quidem Gil- 
bertus est aetatis XXVIII annorum et amplius. Et dicunt quod prasdictus Tho¬ 
mas obiit XIVo die Octobris ultimo praeterito, et quod dictus Gilbertus, filius et 
haeres prsefati Ricardi Talbot, filii et haeredis Gilberti Talbot, fratris praedictiThomae 
defuncti, est haeres ejusdem Thomae propinquior, et plenae aetatis, ut piaedictum 
est. In cujus rei testimonium, praedicti jurati huic Inquisitioni sigilla sua appo- 
suerunt. 

Data loco, die, et anno, supradictis. 

XIII. INQUISITION OF THE 41st OF EDW. Ill, MAY 16, AND 

OCT. 5, A. D. 1367. 

Among the Records in the Custody of the Master of the Rolls, pursuant to Stat. 1 and 2 Viet., cap. 
94, and preserved in the Tower of London, to wit, Inquisition of the 41st year of the reign of King Ed¬ 
ward the Third, (2ndnrs) No 1, it is thus contained : 

Edwardus, Dei gratia Rex Angliie, dominus Hiberniae et Aquitaniae, dilecto 
sibi Johanni de Evesbam, Escaetori suo in comitatu Oxoniae, Salutem. Pra:ci- 
pimus tibi quod, per sacramentum proboruin et legalium hominum de balliva 
tua, per quos rei veritas melius sciri poterit, diligenter inquiras, si sit ad dam¬ 
num vel praejudicium nostrum aut aliorum si concedamus Edmundo de Elford, 
quod ipse quinque messuagia et quatuor virgatas terrae, cum pertinentiis, in 
Astone, juxta Bampton, et Lewe, quae de Roberto de Elford, qui ilia de nobis 
tenuit in capite, ut dicitur, eidem Edmundo ad vitam suam adquisivit, licentia 
nostra super boc non obtenta, retinere possit et habere, ad totam vitam suam 
de nobis et haeredibus nostris, per servitia inde debita et consueta, necne: et 
si sit ad damnum vel praejudicium nostrum, aut aliorum, tunc ad quod damnum, 
et quod praejudicium nostrum, et ad quod damnum, et quod praejudicium alio¬ 
rum, et quorum, et qualiter, et quo rnodo. Et, si messuagia et terra praedicta, 
teneantur de nobis in capite, ut praedictum est, an de alio ; et, si de nobis, tunc 
per quod servitium, et qualiter, et quo modo; et si de alio, tunc de quo, vel de 
quibus, et per quod servitium, et qualiter, et quo modo, et quantum messuagia 
et terra praedicta valeant per annum, in omnibus exitibus, juxta verum valorem 
eorundem. Et si quae terrae et tenementa eidem Edmundo remaneant, ultra 
messuagia et terrain praedicta, tunc quae terrae et quae tenementa, et ubi, et de 
quo, vel de quibus teneantur, utrum videlicet de nobis, an de alio, et si de nobis, 
tunc per quod servitium et qualiter, et quo modo; et si de alio, tunc de quo, 
vel de quibus, et per quod servitium, et qualiter, et quo modo, et quantum va- 
eant per annum in omnibus exitibus. Et Inquisitionem, inde distincte etaperte 
lactam, nobis, in Cancellariam Nostram, sub sigillo tuo et sigillis eorum per 
quos facta fuerit, sine dilatione mittas, et hoc breve. 

Teste me ipso apud Westmonasterium, XVI die Maii, anno regni nostri qua- 
dragesimo primo. Folkyngii. 

Inquisitio facta apud Wytteneye, in comitatu Oxoniae, quinto die Octobris, 
anno regni Regis Edwardi Tertii post Conquestum quadragesimo primo, coram 
Jobanne de Evesham, Escaetore domini regis in comitatu praedicto, virtute 
brevis dicti domini regis eidem escaetori directi, et praesentibus consuti, per 
sacramentum Johannis de Stokes, Thomae Gostard, Willielmi Haddon, Thomas 
Batyn, Henrici Torpheray, Willielmi Somenour, Johannis Pece, Johannis 
Greyndere, Johannis Freman, Willielmi Cok, Johannis Nel, et Thomae Taillour, 
oneratorum et juratorum super articulis, in dicto brevi contentis. Qui dicunt, 
per sacramentum suum, quod non est ad damnum nec praejudicium domini regis 
sen aliorum, licet dominus rex concedat Edmundo dc Eleford, quod ipse quinque 
nessuagia et quatuor virgatas terrae cum pertinentiis, in Astone, juxta Bampton, 

19 


340 


HISTORY OF BAMPTON, 


et Lewe, quae de Roberto de Eleford, qui ilia de domino rege tenuit in capite, 
fcidem Edmundo, ad vitam suam adquisivit, licentia domini regis super hoc non 
obtenta, retinere possit et habere, ad totam vitam suam, de domino rege et haere- 
dibus suis, per sevvitia inde debita et consueta. Et dicunt quod dictae, tria mes- 
suagia et tres virgatae terrae, cum pertinentiis de proedictis quinque messuagiis 
IV virgatis terrae sunt in Astone, juxta Bampton, et tenentur de domino 
rege in capite, per servitium, ad inveniendum unura hominem, cum arcu et sagit- 
tis, per quadraginta dies, in exercitu suo, in Anglia, et Wallia, tempore guerrae 
sumptibus suis propriis. Et dicunt quod dictae II messuagia et III virgatae ter¬ 
rae valent per annum, in omnibus exitibus suis, XXX solidos. Et dicunt, quod 
duo messuagia et una virgata terrae sunt in Lewe et tenentur de domino rege in 
capite, per servitium ad portandum unum falconem lanearium domini regis. Et 
dicunt quod dicta messuagia et terrae in Lewe valent per annum, in omnibus 
exitibus, juxta verum valorem eonnidem III solidos IV denarios. 

Item dicunt quod remanent eidem Edmundo, ultra messuagia et terram prae- 
dicta, unum messuagium et dimidia virgata terrae, cum pertinentiis, in Ele¬ 
ford, quae tenentur de Johanne Grey milite, ut de manerio suo de Herdwyk, 
per servitium annui reditus II solidorum. Et dicunt quod dictae messuagia et 
terrae valent per annum, ultra reprisas, II solidos. Item dicunt, quod dictus 
Edmundus tenet unam virgatam et dimidiam terrae arabilis, cum pertinentiis, in 
villa de Standlake, quae tenentur de feodo Aumarle, per servitium militare. Et 
quod dictae terrae valent per annum in omnibus exitibus, juxta verum valorem 
eorundem, VI solidos, VIII denarios. 

In cujus rei testimonium sigilla praedictorum juratorum praesentibus sunt ap- 
pensa. 

Data loco, die, et anno supradictis. 

XIV. EXTRACT—21st EDWARD IV, APRIL G, 1481. 

From the title-deeds belonging to T. Williams esq. Cowley Grove, Uxbridge. 

ASTON IN An curiam ibidem tentam die Veneris, sexto die Aprilis, anno 

BAMPTON regis Edwardi Quarti vicesimo primo, irrotulatur sic : “Ad banc 
curiam venit Ricardus Wiliams, et cepit de domino unum messuagium, unum 
toftum et duas dimidias virgatas terrae cum suis pertinentibus, vocatas Doddes et 
Wilderes, habenda et tenenda sibi et suis secundum consuetudines manerii, per 
reditum, onera, consuetudines, et servitia inde prius debita et de jure consueta : 
Et dat domino de fine, tarn pro licentia faciendi subtenementum, quam pro tali 
ingressu inde habendo, XX denarios, proviso semper quod dabit domino, nomine 
heriotti, quum acciderit, XX denarios: Et fecit fidelitatem, et admissus est inde 
tenens.” 


XV. EXTRACT FROM HENRY VIH’S GRANT OF THE LANDS 
OF ENSFIAM ABBEY TO EDWARD NORTH. 

A. D. 1543. 


This grant is printed entire, together with the value of all the lands mentioned therein, in Dugdale’s 
Monasticon Anglicanum, Vol. Ill, p. 27, from MS. Cotton, Nero C ix, fol. 158. 

Rex omnibus &c. Sciatis quod nos, in consideratione veri, fidelis, et accepta- 
bilis servitii dilecti servientis nostri Edwardi Northe militis, thesaurarii curiae 
nostrae augmentationum reventionum coronae nostiae, nobis anteliac multipliciter 
impensi, de gratia nostra speciali ac ex certa scientia et mero motu nostris, de- 
dimus et concessimus, ac per praesentes damus et concedimus praefato Edwardo 
Northe totum dominum et situm nuper monasterii de Eynesham, alias dicti En- 

sham &c.maneria nostra de.Shyfforde, .Bampton.pro praedic- 

to manerio de Shyfford et caeteris praemissis cum suis pertinentiis in Shyfford et 
Bampton praedict.&c. 

Teste rege apud lerlynge, XVIIo die Julii, anno regis Henrici octavi 
XXXVo. 







A. D. 1543.] 


APPENDIX, NO XVI. 


141 


Manerium de Shefforde valet in Redd, assis. tain librorum et custum tenen. in 
Sbeiforde, Cote, Aston, Ducklington, et Stanlake, quam firm, scitus manerii cum 
terr. dominical, eidem pertin. modo dimiss. cuidam Stokes per indentur. pro ter- 
mino annorum, necnon in profic. et perquis. cur. ibidem communibus annis XX 
IIIli. XIs XId. 

Mis. etrepris. Annual. Xma domino regi reservat. per annum, XLVs. Ild. 

Et sic valet clar. per annum, XIli. XX Id. 

XVI. A CATALOGUE OF NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL CURIOSITIES, 
WITHIN THE COUNTY OF OXFORD. 

[From an ancient MS. in the Landsdovvne Collection [No. 905, f. 41.] in the British Museum. This 
curious Document appears, from the orthography and style of penmanship, to have been written in the 
seventeenth Century. 

IN THE HEAVENS AND AIR. 

Two spurious Suns near the true one, seen about three years since at Ensham, 
The tempest called Prester, happened near Oxon, Anno 16( 6. 

An Echo repeating 10 words distinctly in Woodstock Park. 

Waters. 

Sulphureous, at Dedington and at Brule in Idbury. 

Chalybeat, but weak, at Shipton Under Whichwood. 

Waters, that take not soap, or will brew, at Thame. 

Waters, tasting like Milk, at Wardington. 

A spring that breaks forth but now and then, at Assenton. 

Petrifying Waters, at North Aston, Barton le Tham, Somerton. 

A salt spring at Clifton near Dedington. 

Fountains remarquably cold in summer and hot in winter, the former at Roll- 
ington, the latter at Shottover Forest. 

A small cataract at Somerton. 

Rivuli subterranei, at Heddington, Shottover Forest. 

Water-works at Engton, and Hanwell. 

Earths, Sands, Clays, &c. 

Bituminous Earths or Peats at Barton Letham, Thame, Cowley. 

Earth for fuller’s use, Stanton-Harcourt. 

A sorte of marie at Merton. 

Earth for Potter’s use (but not very good) at Marsh Balden and Nuneham 
Courtney. 

Tobacco Pipe Clay at Shottover Forest. 

An anonymous very white Earth like crude Alabaster, at Teynton. 

A sort of earth called Lamen, Ibid. 

Which-earth, at Thame, Waterperry, Ad well. 

Gypsum nativum (ut puto) Plinii, at Milton, Great Tew, Stansfield, 

An aluminous Earth, at Ducklington. 

Stone-yellow and Ciay-yellow oker, at Shottover Forest. 

A coarser sort of yellow oker, at Garsington. 

Another yellow oker, at Ducklington. 

Clay mixt with a shining Grit, at Hampton-Gay, 

A coarse dark Umber, at Bladon. 

A light and finer Umber at Waterperry. 

A white fine Sand, at Finstock. 

A sort of Sand, sold by Retaile at 20 sh : per bushel, at Kingham. 

Good Coal, but the bedds not above 4 or 5 inches thick at Kidlington. 

Lignum fossile, at Ducklington, Wo itton. 

Damps of the earth very mortall, at North Leigh. 

A considerable prospect from a hill, a mile North East of Teynton, where 10 
mercat-towns may be seen in a clear day. 

A cave in the earth, called Ainket-hole, near Cornbury. 

Stones. 

Free Stones, at Burford, Cornbury-Park, Heddington, Teynton. 








142 


HISTORY OF BAMPTON, 


Slat-stone for mounds, Bradwell. 

Slat-stone, for covering Houses, Stansfield. 

Best fire- and weather-stone at Teynton and Horntom 
Gra^e stones, Ibid. 

Ragg-stones at Charleton. 

Ragget or Maume, at Whitfield, Stoke-Talmage. 

Marble, at Blechington. 

Mill stones for the Oil Mills, Ibid. 

The Golden Pyrites, at Cleydon ; Silver at Clifton. 

Lapis Schestus (ut puto) at Fyfield. 

A sorte of Iron-stone, at Thame. 

Fluores, spars, in almost every quarry. 

Lapis (ut puto) calaminaris, at Fyfield. 

Globuli coloris ferrei, ponderosi,—lasves, granulati, at Cornwell. 

Lapis Sardius, at Dorchester, 

Cos naturaliter formata, at Heath. 

Litlioxylum, Nuneham Courtney. 

Transparent pebles, at Kidlington, Han well. 

Smiris at Whateley. 

Mugers, scirpi petrificati at North-Aston. 

FORMED STONES. 

To ye likenes of Cockles, Glympton, Teynton: Oysters, Oxford : Muscles, 
Alkerton. 

Asteria, at Claydon, Swerford. 

Astroites at Heddington, Steeple-Barton. 

Ophiomorphites at Sandford, Cuddesden, Thame. 

Cochleomorphites at Adderbury, Langley. 

Ostreomorphites, at Shottover forest. 

Hippocephaloides, at Heddington. 

Dyorchis, at Shottover. 

Triorchis, Ibid. 

Stelechites pyramidalis, at Heddington. 

Schelites, at Shottover. 

Bucardites reticulati, at Shetford. 

Bucardites costatus, At Briz e-Nor ton. 

Cornu Ammonis, at Oxon. 

Otites, Heddington, Sommerton. 

Chama, at Great Heddington, Great Rowlright. 

Chama sideroiues, at Thame. 

Echinites primus Aldrovandi, at Cowley. 

Echiniles magnus Aldrovandi, at Tangley, Fulbrook, Burford. 

Lapis Judaicus faemineus, at Heddington. 

Stalagmites, at Thame, Kircklington. 

Pisolithos, at Rey-brooke. 

Fungites, at Heddington. 

Silex conicus at Lewknor. 

Lapides, in quibus aves effigiatas, at Wardington. 

Lapis Mamillaris, at Lewkner. 

Belemnites, colore cinereo, at Deddington ; caeruleo, at Great Rowlright. 

Lapis acetabulum referens, at Lewkner. 

Lapides lineati, at Coombe, Cherlbury. 

Silex margam continens, Lewkner. 

Ossa liumana petrificata, at Cornwell. 

Lapis specularis, Rhomboides, at Heddington. 

Stone sealed like a Sigle, found in the middle of a block of coal, at Cornwell. 
Ophthalmites, at Oxon. 

Ammites.Gesneri, at Oxon. 
















143 


APPENDIX, NO XVI. 

< 

Lapidis Lyncurii species, at St. Clement’s. 

Tuebs and Plants, discovered, unknown before at the Physic-Garden. 

A Hawthorn, with white Berrys, at Bampton, 

A sort of Elme, with very narrow leaves, at Han well. 

The hundred Pound peare, at Standlake. 

The peare of Paradise, at Latchford. 

—Both these bear twice per Annum. 

Helleborine angusti-folia montana, flore intus nonnihil candicante, at Lewkner- 

lull. 

Triticum eaule rubro, at Sydenham, Sandford. 

Mixt Lammas Wheat, at Crowell. 

Iriticum bispicatum : Hordeum bexspicatum at Fulbrooke. 

Hordeum prmcox, at Gaunt-house in North-moore. 

Other trees and plants, not ordinary, found in the 

COUNTY OF OXON. 

A great spreading Oake, from bough’s end to bough’s end 108 feet, in circum¬ 
ference 324, at Rycot. 

Another Oake, from bough’s end to bough’s end 81 feet, in circumference 243, 
at Nuneham Courtney. 

A great old Elme, in Magdalen College Grove, barked quite round for many 
years, yet lives. 

An Oake, that foretels the birth of the next heire, and death of the present 
possessor, of Ricot, in the Park. 

A hawthorn with reddish blossoms in Whicliwood forest. 

Fraxinus’eleganter contorta, at Bisseter. 

Other Ash-trees remarkable in their growth, Ibid. 

Unusual grains sowne in Oxfordshire. 

1. Carthanus, or Bastard-Saffron, commonly called the Scarlet-Flower, at 
North-Aston. 

2. Ray-Grass sowne with good success, about Kidlington and Islip. 

3. Dills, a good improvement of light stone brush-land, at Steeple-Barton et 
alibi. 

4. Carraways, sowne with good success, about Bampton and Clanfield, that 
one pound of theirs equals two from London in value. 

Animals, with things on usual [unusual] attending them. 

Ludovicus’s Bees, at C. C. C., Oxon. 

A water-insect, bred within a stone, called a stone-caddis, at Cornwell. 

No Snakes ever seen in Oxfordshire, North of Woodstock.* 

A monstrous chick with 4 legs and 4 wings at Waterstock. 

Upupa, the whooping bird, at Forrest-Hill, Cassington. 

The yellow hickall at Weston on the green. 

A white Linnet, at Deddington. 

A sort of Chub, peculiar to the river Evenlode, exceeding, at least equalling 
the Pearch and Tench in goodness, at Shipton Under Whichwood. 

Fossil e Eeles at Eynsham. 

Fresh-water Muscles, much bigger than the sea ones, at Shottover Forest, 
Bradwell, Stanton St. John’s 

Two salmons, the one something above, the other something under, a yard in 
length, catched in a small brook that a man may easily step over, not above one 
furlong from the spring-head, about 200 miles from the river’s mouth, at Lillings- 
ton Lovell. 

A Hog, almost 13 hands high, at Upper Tadmerton. 

A monstrous Greyhound, begotten between an Irish Greyhound and an English 
Mastiff, at Sir Timothy Tyrrel’s. 


J An argument this that the climate is cold, damp, and barren, 







144 


HISTORY OF BAMPTON, 


A cow had 3 calves at one time which are now all grown cattle, Tringford. 

Three horses, each at least 40 years old, at Ashton Rowant, Sherborn, Soul- 
dern. 

A woman of 60 years old brought to bed of a son, both now living at Shet- 
ford. 

A woman of 34 years, with good symmetry of parts, wanting 2 inches of a yard 
in height, born at Milcomb. 

Richard Clifford, late of Bolscot the oldest man I have yet heard of in this 
county, viz. 114 years old. 

Mr. Evans, Rector of Heath, had a stone grow under his tongue that almost 
deprived him of his speech, which he drew forth with his owne hand. 

Richard Hastings of Newton, with Origen, hath made himself an Eunuch, for 
the kingdom of heaven, and is now living. 

They hold their Common at Ensham by drawing a load of wood to the Abbey, 
with men’s hands on Whitsunday. 

The families of ye Lord Norris of Ricot, and of one Mr. Wood of Bampton, 
have a certain premonition before their deaths, the one by the Oake aforesaid, the 
other by a violent knocking. 

The jealous and restless life of one Ovington of Chinner, is notable. 

Bodies of men preserved from putrefaction by extreame moisture, Wendlesbury. 

Things of art. 

The flat floores of timber at the Theater, —Stone at Queen’s College, Oxon. 

The roofs of Merton College Treasury, and a Chappel at Norwigh, remarkable. 

The stair-case at Bletchington, and upper windows at the Theater are notable. 

A Kitchin within a Chimney, or rather a Kitchen without a Chimney, at Stan- 
ton-Harcourt. 

A new way to make a great gate swing as light as a smaller. 

A mill, that grinds apples for cider, and wheat to flour, while it sifts at the 
same time into 4 different finenesses: Oates, which it cutts from ye huske and 
winnows from the Chaffe, into pure Oat-meal; Lastly, it giinds mustard, All 
which are performed with one horse, together or severally, as desired, at Lugmore 
(Tusmore ?) 

A mill, that grinds corn, cutts stones, and bores Guns, altogether or severally, 
at Han well. 

A harpsvial with cats-gutt-strings, at Cornwell. 

A Nett, that certainly catches all the fishes that swim within such a compass, 
at Hanwell. 

An ingenious Roll, for land that is light and subject to couch-grass, at 
Bollscot. 

A clock that goes by water at Hanwell. 

A walk, so ingeniously contrived, that standing in the middle, no eye can 
perceive but it is perfectly streight, but removing to either end, it appears, on the 
contrary, so strangely crooked, that the eye cannot reach much above half the 
way, at Lugmore. 

A way of fatting hogs with so much husbandry and so little trouble, that they 
cannot spoil a bean, each hog never having above a handful, yet never less : the 
servants never give them meat but once, or ever need they come near them, till 
they guess them to be fat, at Lugmore. 

An Oast, or Mault-Roller of stone, first invented by Valentine Stronge, secure 
from the danger of fire, and drying quicker, better, and with lesser charge than 
others, at Teynton and Holwell. 

The ingenious Hook, made to lift barrels by the help of a screw within a box, 
so easy and without the least jogg, that the beere may be drawne presently after 
stooping, at Stanton-Harcourt, Shipton Underwood. 

A rack, for oxen, so well contrived, that they cannot spoil one straw, at 
Lugmore. 

Utensills for brewing made of stone, at Teynton. 








APPENDIX, NO XVII. 145 

An ingenious contrivance to prevent great stacks of hay, Saint-foyne &c. from 
firing, at Lugmore. 

A mill for French barley at CaVersliam. 

Flint-glasses made at Henley. 

Antiquities. 

Saxon and Danish Fortifications at Bladon, Tadmerton, Lineham, Idbury, 
Chastleton, Shipton-under Whichwood, Nixbury. 

Roman Barrows, at Fritwell, Stanton Harcourt. 

Ancient ways, Akeman Stret going through Fritwell, and the Portway through 
Souldern. 

The Fosse-way, yet to be seen near Bradwell Grove. 

Pavimentum Pcenicum sive Mosaicum — Asaroton Graecorum —Lithostroton 
Plinii. —^ploughed up at Great-Tew. 

Rowl-right Stones. 

The great Stones in Stanton Harcourt field. 

The vaults and passages under ground at Woodstock and Bloxham. 

The font of Saint Edward at Kiddington. 

An arrow or dart of an antique forme, plowed up at Steeple-Barton. 

A Stone, found in Sii Thomas Spencer’s Garden, with China or Runic 
characters. 

An ancient image of brass of Our Saviour, plowed up at Hampton-Gay. 

An ancient Vane taken up at Wendlebury. 

Ancient Roman and English money from Aston Rowant, Teynton, Horley, 
Burford, Stratton Audley, Swerford, Chipping Norton. 

XVII. INQUISITION CONCERNING ROBERT VESEY’S BEQUEST TO 
FOUND BAMPTON GRAMMAR-SCHOOL, JAN. 12, 1637. 

The original parchment roll is kept in the great iron chest at Bampton church : it isiliegible in many 
places, apparently by reason of the damp. 

Oxon, An inquisition, indented, taken at the city of Oxon the 12th day of 
January in the 13th year of the reign of our sovereign lord Charles by the grace 
of God king of England, Scotland, France and Ireland, Defender of the 
faith, &c. 

Before Richard Bayley, D. D. vicechancellor of the University of Oxon, 
Henry Southam Esq., mayor of the city of Oxford, John Prideaux, D. D., 
Richard Zouche, doctor of law, chancellor to the bishop of Oxford, and John 
Whistler, esq., by virtue of his majesty’s commission under the great seal of 
England, to them and others directed to enquire for the due execution of the 
statute made in the parliament holden at Westminster the 27th day of October, 
in the 43rd year of our late sovereign lady Queen Elizabeth, entitled an Act 
to redress the misemployment of lands, goods and stock of money heretofore 
given to charitable uses, by the oaths of Thomas Speede, Anthony Edwards, 
William Warland, Richard Willimott, Nicholas Redhead, Edward West, John 
Collens, William Spencer, Thomas May, Robert Wheeler, Richard Farr, James 
Yates and Robert Nicholas, good and lawful men of the county aforesaid. Who 
say upon their oaths that Robert Veysey the elder, late of Chimney, in the 
county of Oxon, gent., deceased, by his last will and testament, bearing date 
the first day of July, in the lltli year of the reign of our Sovereign lord king 
Charles that now is, amongst other things did publish and declare his will to he, 
and did thereby give and bequeath, to and for the freeschool to be founded and 
erected in Bampton, the sum of £100 for and towards the building thereof with 
ashleane worke, and did also give £200 more to be disposed as his executors, 
Mr. William Hodges, Mr. John" Palmer, and three others of the sufficients men in 
Bampton tliould think fit concerning the same school with some protrature at 
the upper end of the same. And the said Robert Veysey, by the same will, did 
make, nominate and appoint his nephew William Veysey of Bampton in the 
county of Oxon, clothier, his full and whole executor of that his last will and testa- 


146 


HISTORY OF BAMPTON, 


ment, only in hope, trust, and contidence for the true payment of all his debts and 
legacies and to be accountable thereof to his overseers monthly, as by the said 
last will and testament appeareth. And the said jurors further say that the said 
Robert Veysey afterwards, that is to say the 11th day of July, in the year of our 
Lord God 1635, died leaving sufficient assets to pay all his debts and legacies. 
And the said William Veysey did take upon him the burden of the said executorship 
and proved his said will in due form of law. And that the said £300, or any part 
thereof, sithence the death of the said Robert Veysey, hath not been employed 
or paid by the said William Veysey the executor, as by the said will the same is 
limited and appointed to be employed and paid. 

Oxon. Orders and decrees made at the city of Oxon in the county of Oxon 
the 12th day of Jan. in the 13th year of the reign of our sovereign lord Charles, 
by the grace of God king of England, Scotland, France and Ireland, Defender of 
the faith, &c. By Rich. Bayley D. D., viced ancellor of the University of Oxon, 
Henry Southam Esq. mayor of the city of Oxon, John Prideaux, D- D., Richard 
Zouche, Doctor of Law, Chancellor to the bishop of Oxford, John Whistler esq. 
by virtue of his majesty’s commission under the great seal of England, bearing 
date the 23rd day of March in the 12th year of the reign of our Sovereign lord 
Charles to them and others directed for the execution of the statute made in the 
high court of parliament holden at Westminster the 27th day of October in the 
43rd year of the reign of our late sovereign lady Queen Elizabeth, intituled an 
“Act to redress the misemployrnent of land, goods and stock of money given to 
charitable uses and as concerning the £300 given by the late will and testa¬ 
ment of Robert Veysey towards the erecting and endowing of a free-school in 
Bampton the said commissioners do order, adjudge and decree that William Vey¬ 
sey the executor of the said Robert shall forthwith pay into the hands of John 
Palmer of Bampton aforesaid the said £300 with interest thereof from the 
time of the decease of the said Robert Veysey after the rate of £5 in the hundred 
from the time of decease of the said Robert, until the said money shall be paid 
to be employed toward the erecting and endowing of a free-school in such man¬ 
ner as by the said will is directed. 

And they do further order and decree that William TIodges of Bampton aforesaid 
clerk, William Veysey, John Palmer, Edward Carter, Thomas Willear, and Will. 
Hancks, or the major part of them, and in case there shall be equality of voices, 
then that part, on which the said William Veysey shall give his voice or suffrage,, 
shall have the placing and election of the first school-master there, and that the 
school-master of the said school shall from time to time be elected chosen and 
visited and upon just cause amoved by the three vicars of the said parish for the 
time being and the heir of the said Robert Veysey or the major part of them that 
shall be present after sufficient warning of such visitation, new election or nomi¬ 
nation, and in case there shall be difference in opinion in such their visitation,nomi¬ 
nation, election or amoval of any schoolmaster, then that opinion or suffrage 
shall be followed, unto which the major part of them shall give their voices. And 
in case there shall be equality of voices, then that part or side, unto which the 
heir of the said Robert Veysey shall give his voice or suffrage, shall betaken and 
pursued. And do further order and decree that the lands that shall be purchased 
for the endowment and maintainance of the schoolmaster there shall be purchas¬ 
ed in the name of William Veysey the executor, Sir Thomas Whord, knight, 
William Hodges, Robert Veysey the younger, John Palmer, Henry Medhopp, 
Rich. Keene, Henry Coxeter, Thomas Willier, William Hancks, William Wise, 
and John Trinder. And that as often as all the said feoffees shall be dead, 
except four surviving feoffees, then those feoffees shall convey the said lands 
so purchased lor the said school and other endowments of the said school unto 
eight or more of the most substantial persons of the said parish to be nominated 
and elected, in such sort, manner or form as the said schoolmaster is appointed to 
be elected, so that those that shall be of the name of the said Robert Veysey be 
chiefly preferred in that nomination. 


[A. D. 1650] 


APPENDIX, NO XVIII. 


147 


XVIII. GRANT FROM TRUSTEES FOR THE SALE OF CHURCH- 
LANDS TO Mrs. JANE HANCKS, OF A MOIETY OF BAMPTON 

DEANERY IN OXFORDSHIRE. 

The original grant is still, I suppose, in the Rolls-Court: the following copy was made from it 
many years ago. 

Septuagesima octava pars claus. Anno Domini 1650. 

THIS INDENTURE mode the nine and twentieth day 
WOLLASTON MIL. of September, in the yeare of our Lord God, according 


ET HANCKS.. to the computation of the Church of England, one thou- 

14 sand six hundred and fiftie, BETWEEN Sir John 

Wollaston Knight, Robert Titchborne, Thomas Noell, 


Marke Hildesley, Stephen Estwicke, William Hobson, Thomas Arnold, Owen 
Roe, George Langham, John Stone, John White, William Wyberd, Daniell 
Taylor, William llolfe and Rowland Wilson, esquires, being by two several! 
Acts of this present Parliament, the one intituled “ An Act of the Commons 
of England in Pai’liament assembled for the abolishing of Deanes, Deanes and 
Chapters, Cannons, Prebends, and other offices and tytles of or belonging to any 
Cathedrall or Collegiate-Church or Chappell within England and Wales,” 
and the other intituled “ An Act with further instructions to the Trustees, 
Contractors, Treasurers and Registers for the sale of the lands and possessions 
of the late Deans, Sub-deans, Deanes and Chapters, &c. and for the better 
and more speedy execution of the former Acts, Ordinances and Instructions 
made concerning the same persons trusted for the conveying of such of the 
lands and possessions of the said late Deanes, Deanes and Chapters, Canons, 
Prebends, and other persons named in the said Acts, as by the same Acts 
respectively are vested and settled in the said Trustees and theire heires in 
such sort as in the said Acts respectively is mentioned, of the one part, and 
Jane Hanckes of Bamp. in the co. of Oxon, widowe, of the. other part—WITNESS¬ 
ETH that the said Sir John Wollaston, [&c. as before]in obedience to the said Acts 
respectively,and by virtue thereof and in execution of the powers and trusts there¬ 
by respectively committed to them, and at the desire and by the warrant of Sir 
William Roberts, knight, Clement Oxenbridge, Robert Smith, Robert Fenwicke, 
and Edward Cresset, esquires, who, together with others named in the said Act 
hereinbefore first mentioned, or any five or more of them, are by the said Acts, 
or one of them, authorised to treat, contract and agree for the sale of the said 
lands and possessions, in such sort as in the said Acts respectively is mentioned 
and in consideration of the summe of eight hundred sixte nine pounds six shil¬ 
lings and stx pence, of law full money of England, the first moietie whereof, be¬ 
ing four hundred tliirtie-fower pounds, thirteene shillings and three pence, the 
said Thomas Noell and William Hobson, two of the Treasurers in that behalf, ap¬ 
pointed by the said first mentioned Act, have by writing under theire hands, bear¬ 
ing date the eight and twentieth day of this present moneth of September, nowe 
produced by the said Jane Hancks and remayning with her, certifyed to be payd 
and satisfyed in such sort as by the same writing appeares ; and the second moye- 
tie thereof is to be paid or secured by the said Jane Hancks, according to the 
Contract certifyed to the said Trustees by the said Contractors to have bene made 
for this purchase have graunted, aliened, bargained and sold, and by tlieise presents 
do graunt, alien, bargaine and sell unto the said Jane Hancks her h. and a. 
ALL THAT the moietie or halfendeale of a certain Messuage or Tenement, of 
one close of ground thereunto adjoining, and of one yard-land and an lialfe of 
arable land thereunto belonging, with their and every of theire appurtenances, 
containing by estimation twentie acres more or lesse, now or late in the tenure or 
occupation of Thomas Collingwood, his Assignee or Assigns, SITUATE, lying, 
and being within the Manner of Bampton, in the countie of Oxon, and all that 



148 


HISTORY OF BAMPTON. 


the other moietie of one Messuage or tenement, of one close of pasture- 
ground thereunto adjoynmg, and of one yard land and an halfe of arable land 
thereunto belonging,- with theire and everie of theire appurtenances conteyning 
by estimation twentie acres, more or lesse, nowe or late in the occupation of Phil¬ 
lip Collingwood, his Assignee or Assignes, situate, lying and being within the 
said manor of Bampton ; and ALL THOSE SEVERAL COPPIEHOLD TENE¬ 
MENTS, as they are now divided, with theire and everie of their appurtenances,, 
parcell of the said manor of Bampton in the said Co. of Oxon, (that is to say) 
All that Messuage or tenement, with the appurtenances, and all that garden and 
one yard land thereunto belonging, with the appurts. lying and being in Bamp¬ 
ton aforesaid, conteyning by estimation 20 acres, more or less, now or late in 
the tenure or occupation of William Green, his Assignee or Assignes, And all that 
other messuage or tenement with the appurts. and all that garden and one yard land 
thereunto belonging, with their appurtenances, situate lying and being in Bampton 
aforesaid and now or late in the tenure or occupation of William Collingwood, his 
Assignee or Assignes, and all that other messuage or tenement there with the ap¬ 
purtenances and one halfe yard land thereunto belonging with the appurten¬ 
ances, lying and being in Bampton aforesaid, now or late in the tenure or occu¬ 
pation of John Sidwell, his assignee or assignes, and all that cottage or tenement 1 
with the appurtenances, situate lying and being in Bampton aforesaid, now or l 
late in the tenure or occupation of Walter Castle, his assignee or assigns, and all 
that other cottage or tenement there with the appurtenances, now or late in the 
tenure or occupation of Robert Jones, his assignee or assignes, and all that other 
cottage or tenement there with the appurtenances, now or late in the tenure or 
occupation of John Carter, his assignee or assigns, And all that other cottage or 
tenement there with the appurtenances, now or late in the tenure or occupation 
of Robert Wright, his assignee or assignes And all that cottage or tenement there 
with the appurtenances, now or late in the tenure or occupation of William 
Edwards, his assignee or assigns. And all that other cottage or tenement 
there with the appurtenances, now or late in the tenure or occupation of An¬ 
thony Cromwell, his assignee or assigns, and all that other cottage or tene¬ 
ment there with the appurtenances, now or late in the tenure or occupation j 
of John Clerke, his assignee or assigns. And all that other cottage or tenement 
there with the appurtenances, now or late in the tenure or occupation of Edward ' 
Blagrave, his assignee or assigns and all that other cottage or tenement there with 
the appurtenances, now or late in the tenure or occupation of Richard Blagrave, ) 
his assignee or assigns, and all that messuage or tenement with the appurtenances 
and all that garden and one yard land thereunto belonging, with the appurten¬ 
ances, lying and being in Bampton aforesaid, and now or late in the tenure or 
occupation of John Sydwell, his assignee or assigns, and all that other messuage 
or tenement there, with the appurtenances, and one quarter of a yard land there¬ 
unto belonging, with the appurtenances, now or late in the tenure or occupation 
of Richard Heysey, his assignee or assigns, and all that other messuage or tene¬ 
ment with the appurtenances and one orchard and curtilage thereunto belonging i 
with the appurtenances conteyning by estimation one acre and an halfe, I 
more or less, and all that close of pasture-ground, with the appurtenances, 
commonly called the Close behind the house, conteyning by estimation two acres 
more or less, and all those three yard-lands, with their and every of the appur¬ 
tenances, conteyning by estimation 50 acres, more or less, belonging to the said 
messuage or tenement, lying and being in Bampton aforesaid, now or late in the ) 
tenure or occupation of the said Jane Hanckes, her assignee or assigns. And all 
that messuage or tenement with the appurtenances, and also two yard lands and ! 
one halfe yard land with the appurtenances thereunto belonging, lying and being 
in Aston and Cotefeld within the said manor of Bampton, and now or late in the 
tenure or occupation of Thompson Hanckes, his assignee or assigns, and all that 
other messuage or tenement with the appurtenances and all that yard land 
and an halfe thereunto belonging, with the appurtenances, lying and being in - 




APPENDIX, NO. XVIII. 


149 


Chimney within the said manor of Bampton, now or late in the tenure ot occu¬ 
pation of Edmund Martin, his assignee or assigns, and all that other messuage or 
tenement with the appurtenances, and one quarter of a yard land thereunto be¬ 
longing, with the appurtenances, lying and being in Cannefield [Clanfield] 
within the said manor of Bampton, and now or late in the tenure or occupation 
of Simon Dyer, his assignee or assignes, and all that other messuage or tene¬ 
ment with the appurtenances, and one yard land thereunto belonging with the 
appurtenances, lying and being in Aston and Cotefield aforesaid, and now or late 
in the tenure or occupation of John Prior, his assignee or assignes and all that 
cottage or tenement with the appurtenances situate, lying and being in Bamp¬ 
ton aforesaid, and now or late in the t. or o. of Edward Slade, his assignee 
or assigns, and all those three cottages with their and every of their appur¬ 
tenances situate and being near the vicarage of Bampton aforesaid, late in 
the t. or o. of Rous Clapton, his a. or a. and all that cottage or tenement 
with the appurtenances situate and being in Bampton aforesaid, now or late 
in the t. or o. of Richard Pettifeir, his assignee or assigns, and all that other 
cottage or tenement with the appurtenances, situate and being in Bampton 
aforesaid, nowe or late in the t. or o. of Robert Carpenter, his assignee or 
assigns, and all that other cottage or tenement, with the appurtenances, situate 
and being in Aston and Cotefield aforesaid, or one of them, and one halfe 
yard land thereunto belonging and appurtaining with the appurtenances 
now or late in the t. or o. of. John Clerke, his a. or a. and all that other 
cottage or tenement there with the appurtenances now or late in the t. or o. 
of Richard Moore, his a. or a. and all houses, edifices, structures, buildings, 
barns, stables, outhouses, orchards, gardens, yards, curtilages, court-yards, 
back-sides, lands arable and not arable, meadows, leasowes, pastures, feedings, 
commons, and common of pasture, woods, underwoods, timber-trees and other 
trees and ways, passages, easements, waters, water-courses, profits, commodities, 
advantages, and appurtenances whatsoever to the several messuages or tenements 
lands and premises abovementioned, and to every or any of them or any part 
or parcel of them, or any of them belonging or in any wise appertaining, all 
which said premises are parcel of the manor of Bampton aforesaid and also 
the moiety of the said manor of Bampton, and of all and singular messuages, cot¬ 
tages, lands, tenements, meadows, leasowes, pastures, feedings, commons, grounds 
used for common, wastes and waste grounds thereunto belonging, other than and 
except the lands tenements and hereditaments hereinafter mentioned to be 
excepted. 

And the said Sir John Wollaston, [&c. as before] in further execution of the 
said powers and trusts, and by the said warrant, and for the consideration afore¬ 
said, have granted, aliened, bargained, and sold, and by these presents do 
grant, alien, bargain and sell unto the said Jane Hanckfes, her heirs and assigns 
the moiety of all Courts Baron, services, franchises, customes, customworks, 
forfeitures, escheats, reliefs, heriots, fines, issues, amerciments, fines upon de¬ 
scent or alienation, perquisites, and profits of the said court, rivers, streams, 
waters,water-courses, fishing, hawking, bunting, fowling, waifs, estrays, deodands, 
treasure-trove, goods and chattels of felons and fugitives, felons of themselves, 
outlawed and condemned persons, clerks convicted, and of persons put in exigents, 
rights, royalties, jurisdictions, liberties, privileges, immunities, profits, commodi¬ 
ties, advantages, rents, reversions, emoluments, possessions and hereditaments 
whatsoever to the said manor of Bampton, incident, belonging, or in anywise 
appertaining, and which the late Dean and Chapter of the late Cathedral Church 
of St. Peter in Exon or any their predecessors in right of the late Deanery of 
Exon, or any other person or persons claiming by, from, or under them or any of 
them their or any of their estates at any time within the space of ten years next 
before the beginning of this present parliament or sithence had held used occu¬ 
pied or enjoyed within the said manor which said premises are mentioned in the 
particular thereof to have been late parcel of the possessions of the late Dean and 







150 


HISTORY OF EAMPTON. 


Chapter of the said late Cathedral-church of Saint Peter in Exon in the County of 
Devon, and to have been together with the residue of the said manor of Bampton, 
by indenture hearing date the 12th day of June in the 17th year of the reign of 
the late king Charles demised by the late Dean and Chapter of the said late Ca¬ 
thedral-church of Saint Peter in Exon unto Robert Veysey gentleman, and Jane * 
Hanckes, for the term of one and twenty years from the day of the date thereof, . 
•under the yearly rent of £16. Gs. 2d., the proportionable part of which said rent 
for the premises hereby granted is in the said particular mentioned to be £9. 6s. 
2d., as by the* said particular, wherein the same premises hereby granted are 
mentioned to be upon improvement of the yearly value of fourscore and eight 
pounds ten shillings and eleven pence, over and above the said proportionable 
part of the said yearly rent reserved appears and the reversion and reversions, re- f 
mainder and remainders of the said moiety or halfendeale of the said manor, mes- \ 
suages or tenements, lands and premises and of every part and parcel thereof, ex¬ 
cept and always reserved out of this present bargain, sale and conveyance all ' 
parsonages appropriate, tithes appropriated, fee-farm rents, issuing out of tithes, 
oblations, obventions, portions of tithes, parsonages, vicarages, churches, chapels, 
advowsons, donatives, nominations, rights of patronage and presentation and also 
except all that Court-lect and view of frankpledge, of and belonging to or usually | 
held within the manor aforesaid and all fines, issues, amerciaments, profits, perqui¬ 
sites, commodities, advantages, emoluments, and appurtenances thereto incident I 
or belonging or in any wise appertaining, and which the late Dean and Chapter j 
of the said late Cathedral-church of St. Peter in Exon, or any their predecessors j 
in right of the late Deanery of Exon or any other person or persons, claiming by ' 
from or under them or any of them, their or any of their estates, at any time 
within the space of ten years next before the beginning of this present par¬ 
liament or sithence had held used occupied or enjoyed as belonging or apper¬ 
taining to the said court-leet and view of frankpledge and also except all lands, 
tenements, and hereditaments now or late parcel of the manor aforesaid, and now 
or late in the t. or o. of Robert Veysey, esquire, his a. or a. by virtue of a deed of ! 
partition made between the said Jane Hanckes and the said Robert Veysey, bear¬ 
ing date the 20th day of May in the two and twentieth year of the reign of the 
late king Charles, and all such other things, as in and by the said acts or either 
of them are saved or excepted or appointed to be saved, or excepted, or not i 
to be sold. 

TO HAVE AND TO HOLD the said moiety or halfendeale, of the said 
manor, messuages, lands, tenements, and hereditaments, and all and singular other 
the premises hereby granted, aliened, bargained or sold, or hereinbefore mention¬ 
ed to be hereby granted, aliened, bargained or sold, with their and every of their 
rights, members, and appuvtenances, except before excepted, unto ye said Jane 
Hancks, her heirs and assigns for ever, to ye only use and behoof of ye said Jane 
Hanckes, her heirs and a. for ever as amply as ye said trustees or any of them 
by the said Acts or either of them are enabled to convey the same, discharged of 
all demands, payments and incumbrances, as amply as by the said Acts or 
either of them it is enacted or provided in that behalf. IN WITNESS whereof 
the said parties to these indentures interchangeably have set their seals, yeoven 
the day and year first above-written. 

ET MEMORANI). quod 20mo 8vo die Novembris, anno suprascripto praefatus 
Marcus Hildesley venit coram custode libertatis Angliae authoritate parliamenti 
in cancellar. et recogn. inden. prsedict. ac omnia et singula in eadem content, et 
specificat in forma suprascripta. 

Irrotulatur XIIo die Decemb. anno praedicto. 

XIX. APPOINTMENT OF THE FIRST SCHOOL-MASTER TO THE 
FllEE-SCHOOL OF BAMPTON, OCT. 10, 1653. 

From the iron-chest in Bampton parish-church. 

To all true Christian people, to whom this present writing shall come, William 
















151 


APPENDIX, NO XIX. 

Hodges, of Ripple, in the county of Wigorne, Clerk, William Veysey of Taynton 
m the county of Oxon, clothier, Thomas Will ear of Bampton, in the said county 
of Oxon, mercer, and William Hancks of Bampton aforesaid, mercer, send greet¬ 
ing in our Lord God everlasting. 

Whereas Robert Veysey, late of Chimney in the parish of Bampton in the 
county of Oxon, gent, deceased, in and hy his last will and testament, hearing 
date the first day of July, in the 11th year of the reign of the late king Charles, 
did give and bequeath to and for a free-sehool to be founded and erected in 
Bampton the sum of one hundred pounds for and towards the building thereof 
with Ashleane worke and also did give £, 200 more to be disposed of as his exe¬ 
cutors Mr. W illiam Hodges, Mr. John Palmer and three others of the sufficients 
men in Bampton aforesaid should think fit concerning the same school, And the 
said Robert Veysey by the same will did make nominate and appoint his nephew 
William Veysey of Burford in the said county of Oxon, clothier, his sole executor 
of that his last will and testament, as in and by his said last will and testa¬ 
ment more at large appeareth, Which said William Vevsey did take upon him 
the burden of the said executorship and proved his said will in due form of law: 
and whereas afterwards it was ordered and decreed at the city of Oxon, in the 
said county of Oxon (that is to say) the 12th day of January, in the 13th year of 
the said late king Charles, by Richard Bayly, D. D., then vicechancellor of the 
University of Oxford, Henry Southam esq., then mayor of the city of Oxon, John 
Prideaux. D. D., Richard Zouch, Doctor of law, then chancellor to the then Bis¬ 
hop of Oxon, and John Whistler esq. upon an inquisition then and there taken 
betore them, by the oaths of Thomas Speed, Anthony Edwards and eleven others 
good and lawful men of the said county of Oxon : by virtue of a commission 
under the great seal of England, to them and others directed, that William Hod¬ 
ges, then of Bampton aforesaid, clerk, William Veysey, John Palmer, Edward 
Carter, Thomas Willier and William Hancks, or the major part of them and in 
case there should be equality of voices, then that part, on which the said William 
Veysey should give his voice or suffrage, should have the placing and election of 
the first sohool-master there : as in and by the said decree, amongst other things, 
more at large appeareth : sithence which, the said John Palmer and Edward Car¬ 
ter are deceased : now know ye that the said William Hodges, William Veysey, 
Thomas Willier, and William Hancks, the surviving electors of the first school¬ 
master of the said free-school, have elected placed and appointed, and hereby do 
elect, place and appoint William Jackson ofCharlbury in the said county of Oxon, 
M. A. first schoolmaster of and in the said school, according to and in pursuance 
of the said decree, he the said school-master observing such rules and statutes as 
are made by the feoffees of the said school on his part to be done. 

In witness whereof we have hereunto put our hands and seals the 10th day of 

October in the year of our Lord 1653.-Wm. Hodges, Rob. Veysey, per Win. 

Vevsey, executor, as above is written, Thomas Wiilear, Wm. IJanckes. 


XX. INQUISITIONS TAKEN AT BAMPTON, A. D. 1680. 

From the chest in Bampton church. 

Oxon scilicet inquisitions indented taken at Bampton, on Friday the 30th 
day of April, in the two and thirtieth year of the reign of our Sovereign Ld. Charles 
the II, by the grace of God King of England, Scotland, France and Ireland, De¬ 
fender of the Faith, &c., Annoque Domini 1680. And from then adjourned to 
the eight and twentieth day of May then next following, before Henry Alworth 
Dr. in Law, Robert Perrot, Thomas Hord, John Gower, John Gunne Esq. and 

Richard Dew Gentlemen. , _ TT • . , , . . 

By virtue of the King’s majesty’s commission issuing out of His majesty shigli 
and honorable court of Chancery bearing date at Westminster the seventeenth 
day of February in the two and thirtieth year of his now majesty’s Reign to 
them and others directed for the inquiring of the misemployment of Lands, 



152 


HISTORY OF BAMPTON, 


Tenements and Hereditaments, goods, Chattels, and stocks of money heretofore 
given to charitable uses according to the statutes made in the three and thir¬ 
tieth year of the Reign of the late Queen Elizabeth in that case made and 
provided by the oaths of Daniel Warwick of Kelmscot, John Williams, John 
Williams Jun., Edward Ricketts, William Faulkner, Phillip Turner, Wdliam 1 ur- 

ner, Nicholas Constable, William Bryan, Peter.ate, John Tremaine, Robert 

Stevens, Alexander May, William Castle, John Clarke and John Taylor, good and 
lawful men of the said County who being returned impannelled elected and sworn 
according to the said statute and commission do say upon their oaths as 


followeth ; 

BAMPTON.—First they present and say upon their oaths that John Palmer 
late of Weald in the parish of Bampton in the county of Oxon Gent., deceased 
did by his last will and testament hearing date the three and twentieth day of 
October in the year of our Lord 1G50, give to the use of the poor, within the town¬ 
ships of Bampton and Weald only, the sum of £100 to be disposed of among the 
said poor by Bartholomew Coxeter Gent., John Trinder, Robert Right, and Wil¬ 
liam Collingwood of Bampton aforesaid, Yeomen, or the survivors or survivor of 
them. And they do further present and say that the said John Palmer some short 
time after the making of his said will died, upon whose death the said £100 was 
paid and came to the hands of the said Bartholomew Coxeter who detained the 
same about the space of five years and paid no part of the said money or the 
interest thereof to or for the use of the poor of Bampton and Weald according to 
the said last will of the said John Palmer, upon which by virtue of a commission 
of charitable uses directed to several gentlemen commissioners for the said coun¬ 
ty the said commissioners ordered the said Bartholomew Coxeter to pay the £100 
and the interest thereof then due and in arrears unto the said John Trinder, 
which was accordingly paid. And they do further present and say upon their 
oaths that the said sum of£l00and also the sum of £48 beingthe interest money 
of the said £100, is now in the hands and possession of the said John Trinder 
and they do further say that the said Bartholomew Coxeter, Robert Right, Wil¬ 
liam Collingwood are since the making of the said will dead and that the said 
John Trinder is the only surviving Trustee. 

ITEM they do further present and say upon their oaths that Richard Rla- 
grove late of Bampton in the said county of Oxon Yeoman deceased did after 
he had made his last will and testament in writing declare upon his death-bed his 
intention to have given to the use of the poor of Bampton aforesaid and Weald, 
the sum of £10 in the presence of Joan his wife and executrix of his said will, 
and they do further present that the said Joan his executrix voluntarily declared 
the same and desired that the said £10 might be by her paid into the hands of 
the Chuich-wardens and overseers of the poor of Bampton and Weald to be by 
them disposed of and placed out at interest for the use of the poor of Bampton 
and Weald for ever but withal did declare her intention that it should be to such 
uses in bread or otherwise for the said poor and to such of them during her life as 
she.should nominate direct or appoint. 

ITEM they do further present and say upon their oaths that Robert Dale late 
of Weald in the parish of Bampton in the county of Oxon. gent., deceased 
did, by his last will and testament under his hand and seal, bearing date the 10th 
day of August in the year of our Lord 1658, give and bequeath unto the 
poor of Aston and Coate, in the said county of Oxon five pounds to remain in his 
executiix s hands and she to pay six shillings for the use of it every year 
so long as she should live and afterwards to be put into the hands of some honest 
trustees to remain for ever paying to the poor of Aston and Coate what benefit 
the money would bring yearly for the use of it, and they do further present that 
the executrix is since dead, and that upon her death the said sum of five pounds 
came to the hands and custody ot lhomas Dale her executor who hath the said 
five pounds in his hands. 

ITEM they do further present and say, upon their oaths, that Edward Cotten, 




APPENDIX, NO XX. 


153 - 

1'ate of Silverton clerk deceased, did by his last will and testament, bearing date the 
16th day of December, anno Domini 1674 and afterwards pioved in due form of 
law, the 27th day of May, in the year of our Lord 1676, give unto the poor 
house lodgers of Bampton and Weald the sum of fifty pounds, his will being that 
it should be put out on good security by ye overseers and churchwardens of ye 
said parish and the interest thereof paid to such parishioners as are not chargea¬ 
ble to the parish, and who duly frequent their church, and receive the Holy 

Sacrament of the Lord’s supper... and to such persons of honest religious 

lives as may encourage industry and piety, provided always that no one have 
less than half a crown and no one more than ten shillings, the money to be dis¬ 
posed of by and with the consent of the three vicars and to such persons as they 
shall appoint, reposing such confidence in them that they will not by partiality 
misplace his charity or dispose of what he gave, to ease ye parish thereby of that 
relief which is due from them to the poor, and they do further present and say 
upon their oaths that John Cotten of Boscastle in the county of Cornwall, esquire, 
did the said 21st day of May in ye year of our Lord 1676, prove the said will 
and testament and took upon him ye burden thereof and possessed himself of the 
goods and chattels of she said Edward Cotton deceased to the value of £1149. 8s. 
and that ever since the probate of the said will the said John Cotten hath 
detained the said sum of £50, with the interest thereof in his hands. 

ITEM they do further present and say, upon their oaths, that Dr. William Os¬ 
borne deceased by his will did give a hundred pounds to ye use of ye poor of 
Bampton aforesaid to he bestowed in binding out of apprentices as it should seem 

good to any two of the vicars to be together with Mr. John Palmer there. 

..and they do further find that the said sum of 

£100 is now in the hands and custody of Stephen Phillips Dr. of Divinity 
one of the vicars of Bampton, together with twenty pounds there made and 
raised out of the interest thereof. 

Also the said day of adjournment, videlicet the 28tli day of May, anno Domini 
1680, and from thence adjourned to the 7th day of June then next following, be¬ 
fore us, H. Alworth, Dr. in law, Th. Hord, lloh. Perrott, and J. Gunn, esqs., and 
llichard Dewe, gent., commissioners by virtue of tbe statute and commission before 
mentioned; The Jurors aforesaid, upon their oaths, present and say that the sum 
of £10, with the interest thereof, now in the hands of John Collingwood and Edith 
Sheppard, as executors to William Collingwood mentioned in their bonds bearing 
date the last day of October, anno Domini 1656, and that the sum of £10 with 
the interest thereof, now in the hands of Henry Cooke and Simon Colling¬ 
wood mentioned in their bond, bearing date the 18th day of April, Anno 
Domini 1674, and that the sum of £20, with ye interest thereof, now in the 
hands of Henry Allen and John Bennett ye younger mentioned in their bonds, 
bearing date the 11th day of April, anno Domini 1675 and that the sum ot £10, 
with ye interest thereof, now in the hands of Robert Sidwell and John Sidwell, 
executors of Ellen Sidwell his mother deceased mentioned in their bond bearing 
date the 22nd day of October, in the year of our Lord 1673 and that the sum of 
£70, with the interest thereof, now in the hands ot Powdrell Hurst and John 
Gower, esquires, mentioned in their bond bearing date the first day ot May, anno 
Domini 1670 and that the sum of £50, with the interest thereof, now in the 
hands ot William Nabbs, and John Nabbs, mentioned in their bond, bearing date 
the 2nd day of May, anno Domini 1677, and that the sum of £50, now in the 
hands of John Gower esq. and George Gower, gent., with the interest thereof, 
mentioned in their bond, bearing date the 12th day of May anno Domini 1677, 
and that the sum of £20 with the interest thereof, now in the hands of William 
Greene all which said several sums so mentioned and expressed as aforesaid, do 
belon 0- to the use of the school of Bampton by the devise ot Robert Veysey, late of 
Chimney, gent., deceased and also by the devise of John Palmer, late ot Weald, 
Lmnt., deceased, and by tbe devise of H. Coxcter, late of Weald, gent., deceased. 
° ITEM They do farther present and say, upon the oath of Daniel Warwick, and 





154 


HISTORY OF BAMPTON. 


the information of Richard Coxeter gent., that there is fourteen foot of ground' 
in length on the west end of the free school of Bampton lying towards a cottage of 
Mr. Richard Dewe’s that belongs to the said free school, and lying between a stone 
wall of Dr. Phillips to ye north and a mud wall to ye south, of ye same length. 

APRIL the 30th, Anno Domini 1680 it is ordered, adjudged and decreed 
by the commissioners appointed as aforesaid, that the £5 mentioned in the 
inquisition to be given by Robert Dale by his will above-recited be paid by Tho¬ 
mas Dale ye executor of ye executrix unto John Moulden, J ohn Williams ye elder,. 
John Williams the younger, of Coate in this county yeoman, and Edward Rickotts 
of Aston yeomen, whom we appoint trustees for ye said poor, and to be by them ye 

trustees disposed of and placed out for the uses expresed in the said. 

and that the receipt of the said trustees for the said £5 be a sufficient discharge to 
the said Themas Dale for ever. 

APRIL the 30th Anno Domini 1680. We the commissioners aforesaid do 
farther order, adjudge and decree that the £10 mentioned to be given in the in¬ 
quisition by Richard Blagrove to the use of the poor of Bampton and Weald, be 
by Jone his wife and executrix paid into the hands of the Churchwardens and 
overseers of the poor of Bampton and Weald aforesaid to be by them disposed; of 
and placed out at interest for the use of the poor of Bampton and Weald afore¬ 
said for ever but to such uses in bread or otherwise for the said poor and to such 
of them during the life of the said Jone as she shall direct and appoint. 

At the said day of adjournment, that is to say the 28th day of May, Anno 
Domini 1680, we, the commissionars aforesaid, do farther order, adjudge, and 
decree that for the better settling and continuing of the several sums beforemen- 
tioned in the inquisition of £10 with the interest thereof to be in the 
hands of John Collingwood and Edith Sheppard as excutors of William Col¬ 
ling wood, and the sum of £10 with the interest thereof, to be in the hands of 
Henry Cooke and Simon Collingwood and the sum of £20 with the iuteiest thereof 
to be in the hands of Henry Allen and John Bennet the younger; and the sum 
of £10, and the interest thereof, to be in the hands of Robert Sidwell and John 
Sidwell execut. of Ellen Sidwell his mother deceased and the sum of £70, with 
the interest thereof to be in the Hands of Powdrell Hurst and John 
Gower esquire, and the sum of £50, with the interest thereof, to be 
in the hands of William Nabbs and John Nabbs and the sum of £20, 
with the interest thereof, to be in the hands of William Greene, be by the 
several persons before-mentioned forthwith paid into the hands of Stephen Phil¬ 
lips Doctor in Divinity, Arthur Rury Doctor in Divinity, and Thomas Snell Clerk, 
the present vicars of the parish-church of Bampton and their successors, Thomas 
Hord esquire, John Gower esquire, Robert Mayott of Fawlor gent., Richard Dew 
the elder of Bampton, gent., Robert Veisey of Tanton gent., Thomas Tremayne 
the younger gent., Richard Lissett, John Nabbs and William Young, whom we 
nominate and appoint trustees for the receiving thereof and the said trustees or 
the major part of them to dispose and lay out the same in lands and tenements 
of fee-simple, and that the said trustees or the major part of them do contract and 
agree with the party or parties of whom the said lands and tenements shall or 
may be bought and purchased to convey by the advice of Counsel learned in the 
Law such lands and tenements so to be purchased unto the said trustees and their 
heirs upon trust and confidence that the said trustees shall pay and dispose the 
clear yearly value of the said lands and tenements so to be purchased to the 
schoolmaster belonging to the said parish of Bampton for the time being and his 

successors, and with a covenant or proviso in the said deed of purchase... 

shall think fit that so soon os eight of the beforementioned trustees are or 
shall be dead, ye surviving trustees ahall enfeoff and convey to 12 other trustees 
and their heirs, the vicars of Bampton for the time being to be three of the 
said trustees upon and under the same trust, covenants, and provisoes con¬ 
tained in the said conveyance, and in like manner after the death of ehdit 




155 


APPENDIX, NO XXL 

trustees the survivors shall enfeoff and convey to twelve others, and their 
heirs, the vicars of Bampton tor the time being to be three of the trustees, 
upon and under like trust, covenants and provisoes before-mentioned, and so after 
the death of eight of the trustees the survivors to enfeoff and convey to twelve 
others the vicars of Bampton for the time being to be three of the said trustees, to 
continue the said trust and so the said trust in like manner to be continued 
for ever. 

At the day of adjournment that is to say the 28th day of May, anno Domini 
1680, we the commissioners aforesaid do farther order, adjudge and decree that 
the said store of ground mentioned in the inquisition to belong to the free school of 
Bampton be observed and livered of the bodies of the said Mr. Richard Dew, 
in the inquisition mentioned as the.Richard Dew, and of the parishi¬ 

oners of the parish of Bampton. 

AT the day of adjournment, that is to say the 28th day of May anno Domini 
1680 wc the commissioners aforesaid de farther order, adjudge and decree by and 
with the consent of John Trinder in the inquisition mentioned that for the better set¬ 
tling and continuing ©f ye sum of £120 mentioned in ye inquisition to be in ye hands 
of ye said John Trinder that he ye said J. Trinder do within six days next ensuing, 
after notice of the said decree, give security by bond for the said sum of £120 
now in his hands unto Richard Lissett, John Nabbs, William Young, Thomas 

Ti*emaine,.Thomas Burdock, John Carter the elder, 

Thomas Hall, all of Bampton aforesaid, Richard Wright, William Sadler of 
Weald yeomen, whom we nominate and appoint trustees for the receiving 
thereof and the said trustees or the major part of them to dispose and lay 
out the same in lands and tenements of fee-siihple, and that the said trustees 
or the major part of them do contract and agree with the party or parties, of 
whom the said lands or tenements shall or may be bought and purchased, to con¬ 
vey, by the advice of counsel learned in the law, such lands and tenements so to 
be purchased, unto the said trustees and their heirs, upon trust and confidence 
that the said trustees shall pay and dispose the clear yearly value of the said lands 
and tenements so to be purchased to the poor of Bampton and Weald, and not 
one person or family to have above five shillings at a time and with a covenant or 
proviso in the said deeds of purchase, as counsel shall think fit, that so soon and 
so often as six of the before-mentioned trustees are or shall be dead, the surviv¬ 
ing trustees shall enfeolf and convey to nine other trustees and their heirs, upon 
and under the like trusts covenants and provisos before-mentioned. And after 
the death of six trustees the survivors to enfeoff and convey to nine others to con¬ 
tinue the said trust.to be in like manner transferred from time 

to time for ever. And that.out at interest by the said trustees un¬ 
til such purchase be had. disposed of to the poor as aforesaid And 

that the acquittance or.. said trustees or the major part of them shall 

be a good discharge to the said .purposes. 

In Witness whereof as well the said commissioners, as the said trustees have 
set their hands and seals the 7th day of June, anno Domini 16S1. 

Tremayne March the 18th, 1681. IIecd., then and before, seventeen 
pounds, nineteen shillings and eleven pence in full of the 
charges and expenses for carrying on and managing of this 
business in full, by me, THO. TREMAYNE. 

XXI. HUDSON’S PAMPHLET ON THE CHARITIES OF BAMPTON 
AND WEALD, (reprinted from the edition of 1814.) 

[Title page.] A brief statement of the several charitable gifts and donations 
for the benefit of the poor of Bampton and Weald, With particular directions how 
the rents and profits are to be applied According to the several Deeds, Wills, and 
Decrees. 


21 












156 


HISTORY OF BAMPTON, 


To which is added ‘ An account of the Lands appropriated ' for the use of Re¬ 
pairing the Church 4 Interspersed with remarks and observations.’ 

God is a spirit just anil wise, He 9ees with piercing sight, 

How dare we then the poor despise, And keep from them their right. 

Roh not the poor, because of their poverty, hut pity and have mercy on them. Sol. 

Bampton, Oxon ; Printed by W. Holloway lor the late Mr. Hudson. 1801. 
And reprinted at request, Dec. 60th, 1814. (Price Sixpence.) 

[Page 2.) To THF, READER. 

As most Authors say something in defence of the works they publish, it may probably be expected 
that 1 should give my reasons for compiling the following memorandums. 

Sufiice it then to say, that my principal design was, to rescue from oblivion, the rights of the poor to 
the several charitable Donations; in the prosecution of which subject L have been actuated by the 
purest motives, That of Benevolence to my fellow creatures in the lower orders of society. Lor having 
a long time observed with concern, the numberless abuses and mis-management that too frequently at¬ 
tend the distribution of charitable Donations in general, but more particularly those belonging to our 
own poor 1 was induced to collect and publish, from the best and most authentic information I possibly 
could procure, an account of all the existing charities, with the quantity and rents of the several 
Estates etc. Ilow far 1 have succeeded in the attempt I shall leave to belter judges than myself 

to determine. . , 

I hope however, that the work, imperfect as it is, will meet the approbation ot the candid, and 
he a means of stimulating the new Trustees, as well as the old Churchwardens, to a faithful discharge 
of their duty in this important affair. By settling their accounts annually, and leaving the Books 
open for public Inspection, then, and not till then, may we expect to hear of no more complaining in 
our Streets, and Alehouses, of the abuse and mis-application of the poor’s money as it is call’d, but on 
the contrary, all would he peace harmony and concord. That this in future may be the case, Is the 
Sincere wish of your Humble Servant R. Hudson. Hampton, May 16tli, 1N01. 

[Page 3.] CHARITIES, &c. 

Thompson’s gift. 

Heaven hath my soul, in purest joy and bliss, 

Earth hath my earth where body loomed is, 

Poor have my store, for ever to their use ; 

Friends have my name : to keep without abuse, 

Heaven, Earth, Poor, Friends of me have all their part, 

And this in life was cliiefest joy of heart. 

George Thompson Esq. who died in the year 1608,—by his will gave to 
the poor of 4 Bampton, Weald, and Lew, Six Pounds a year for ever : charg’d 
upon a house and lands at Brize-Norton,’-—in the occupation of ‘Francis Hall, 
and Charles Gillet; ’ which sum is directed to he distributed in the ‘ South Porch,’ 
by the Church Wardens and Overseers, on Whitsunday, and St. Thomas the Apos¬ 
tle, by equal portions;—‘ But no part of this Charity has been distributed on j 
Whitsunday, in the memory of the writer of this work.’ 

Wilmot’s GIFT. 

Lf.onad Wilmot of Clanfield Gent., who died in the year 1608, gave to the 
poor of Bampton and Weald, forty shillings a year for ever charged upon an es¬ 
tate at Clanfield, called [P. 4] 4 Chest-Lion Faun,’—nowin the occupation of 
Mr. Pope ; which sum is directed by his will to he distributed by the Church¬ 
wardens to the most industrious poor, on Good Friday in every year. But shame¬ 
ful to relate, not a shilling of it has been given to the poor till within these five 
or six years past, although it lias been regularly received by the Church-war¬ 
dens. This I assert as a real fact, as l was the only person at a vestry who re¬ 
monstrated against the mis-application of this charity, as well as some of the other 
gifts.* 

Appleton estate. 

John, 4 fd : as ’ Julian Walter of Appleton in the county of Berks, Gent., who 
died in the year 1636, by his Will gave to the poor of Bampton & Weald, an 
estate of eighteen pounds per annum consisting of a house, barn, and homestead, 
about twenty four acres of arable land, one acre and a half of pasture, end four 
cow commons, now in the occupation of Willi-[P. 5]am Clanfield; the rents of 
which are directed to be laid out in wheaten bread, & distributed every Sunday 
after divine service to the most necessitous poor ; excepting Eight shillings, which 


* Tradition says that this gentleman in the former part of his life was a menial servant, In 
which capacity he lived about 20 years in several different parishes in the Counties of Oxford and 
Berks, to the poor of which, he bequeathed an annual donation of as many pounds as he continued to 
live years in each place — To Bampton ho i#ove two pound*.-—to Clanfield three pounds, — to Burford 
and WRitey four pounds <xi*h. 










157 


APPENDIX, NO XXI. 


sum (a great one in the days of the donor) is to provide a dinner for the Church- 
Wardens and Overseers on Holy-Thursday. f Present rent, 50 pounds per annum. 

Lower Moor Close, and Lake-riddy Close. 

Containing in the whole about twelve acres the rents of which are, [according 
to a table published by the late Mr. Frederick,] to be d ruled into thirty three 
parts^eight parts of which are to be paid to the Church-wardens and Overseers, 
and'by them distributed to the poor of Hampton and Weald, and the remaining 
twenty five parts to be paid to the Trustees, and by them given to [P. 6] the poor; 
No person or family to have above five shillings at any one time. These Closes 
it seems were purchased by donations [the most considerable of which was that 
given by Mrs. Hanks, otherwise Loder,] for the use of the poor, in or about the 
year 1687. Present rent 27 pounds per annum. 

Upper Moor Close, & Brookfast Furlong Close. 

The former called four acres, the latter six acres, the rents of which arc direc¬ 
ted to be applied as follows ‘ viz.’ one fourth part to be paid to the Clmrch-wardens 
to be by them laid out in two-penny loaves and give n to the poor every Sunday 
after divine service; (1ms this been properly attended to?) one other fourth part 
to be paid to be Vicars for the purpose of apprenticing pooT Boys, and an eighth 
part to be paid likewise to the Vicars, and distributed at their discretion, to such 
persons as frequent the Church and sacrament, and are not chargeable to the 
parish; X [P. 7] and the residue thereof to be paid to the Church-wardens, for 
the purpose of buying bread to be distributed to the most industrius poor, Present 
. rent of the Moor Close, is 21 pounds per an num, and Brookfast furlong close 27 
pounds. 

Shilton estate, iierks. 

This Estate consists of a Messuage or Tenement and Barn, a small Close of 
pasture well timbered, and upwards of twenty-five acres of inclosed arable land, 
with a quantity of meadow ground adjoining to the River Isis, now in the occu¬ 
pation of Thomas Bunce, the rents of which are directed to be appropriated for 
the apprenticing poor Children to some good trades in London or the suburbs 
thereof [‘and not else where’] as the Trustees or the major part of them .shall 
think fit, and as far as the vents and profits will extend. This Estate it seems 
was purchased by subscripton, in or about the year 1700, and the Trustees first 
appointed were the Vicars of Bampton for the time being, Mrs. Mary Crofts and 
her heirs, and Mr. Richard Coxeter and his heirs. Present rent 24 pounds 
per annum. 

[P. 8] Widows estate. 

Mr. Edward Church who died in the year 1771, gave an Estate which is 
situated in Weald, and known by the name of Sones Lands, of the value of four¬ 
teen pounds per annum. In trust, to apply the rents and profits thereof to six 
poor widows of Weald, to be nominated yearly at Easter by four of the most sub¬ 
stantial inhabitants of Bampton and Weald ; which said charity for several years 
after the death of the Donor was applied as his will directed. But he having 
neglected to comply with the Statute of the 9th G. 2. chap: 86, commonly called 
the Statute of Mortmain,§ his heir at Law, claimed the Estate as his Right and 
property; and the parish of Bampton judging it useless to litigate the matter left 


t A very singular circumstance respecting this Gentleman is handed down to us, and is as fol¬ 
lows. Having but few or no relations that he esteem’d or respected, he resolved to bequeath his 
property to charitable uses; but not having a regard for one Parish in preference to another, ho 
seemed to be at a loss on whom to bestow it. Standing however one day on an eminence near 
the said village which commands a most extensive prospect, he beheld four different Churches; 
namely, Bampton, Ensham, Witney, and Stnndlakc, to the poor of which places he gave considerable 
£stntcs 

Vi am sorry to observe that there are very few persons of this Character now to be found. To those 
however that may happen to come under this description, all due encouragement, in my humble opi¬ 


nion, ought to be given to them. . ... « , 

§ This Statute enacts “ That no I.and or Tenements shall he given or charged with any charitable 
use whatsover unless by deed indented, and executed in the presence of two witnesses, twelve calen¬ 
der months before the death of the Donor, and enrolled in Chancery six months after its execution.” 










158 


HISTORY OF HAMPTON. 


Mr. Church’s heir in the uninterrupted enjoyment [if it may he so called,] of what 
the letter of the law furnish’d him with. 

[P. 9] Having thus taken a view of the several Charity Estates, and given a par¬ 
ticular account how the rents and profits of the same are to he applied, 

We shall next state the LEGACIES Which have been given for the Poor, and 
the first, that comes under consideration is the Bequest of 

Mrs. MARY DLWE; who by her will gave to the Vicars of Bampton, her 
Sister Mrs. Jane Dewe, Thomas Trollope Brown, and Gasc : Frederick Esquires, 
the sum of two hundred pounds In trust, to be applied by them-their Executors 
or Administrators, in employing the poor in some manufactory, under such rules 
and regulations as they should think fit, or should hereafter be established by par¬ 
liament. This Gentlewoman died in the year 1763 which is 38 years ago, and 
notwithstanding the great distance of time, but little has yet been done with this 
sum, either for the benefit or employment of the poor. Strange! surprising 
strange! that no one Gentleman in Bampton will exert himself on this occasion. 
The Rev. Mr. Hawkins in whose hands the principal sum remains is [if I am 
informed a- [P. 10] right] willing to give it up whenever it can be done with 
propriety and safety. 

Mrs. Snell’s legacy. 

This Lady was relict of the Rev. Thomas Snell, formerly one of the Vicars of 
Bampton, who by her will gave to Edward Whitaker, William Roberts, and the 
Rev. Francis South, the sum of two hundred pounds, In trust, that they place it 
out upon good security, and annually distribute the interest thereof to the poor of 
Bampton. —She died in the year 1788. 

Mr. Leverett’s legacy. 

This Gentleman was formerly an eminent Surgeon at Witney; who by his 
will gave to John Wright and Samuel Druce, the sum of fifty pounds, due to him 
on the security of the Tolls on the Turnpike road between Bampton and Witney ; 
In trust, that they permit his wife to receive the interest thereof during her life, 
and after her decease to pay the same to the Church-wardens and Overseers of 
the poor of Bampton ; to be by them laid out in bread and distributed at their 
discretion to the poor, monthly or weekly for [P. 11] ever. H Not a shilling of 
the interest of this sum has been received since the death of Mrs. Leverett, which 
happened in February, 1793. 

Mrs. Susanna Frederick’s Legacy. 

This Lady who died in May 1789, gave by her will to the most distressed la¬ 
bouring poor, the interest of two hundred pounds, due to her upon Bond from 
Mrs. Leybourn late of Westwell in this County, dated in or about June 1784, 
which sum, if I am rightly informed, is directed to be laid out in linen and shoes, 
and distributed as her Executor shall think fit. But as Mrs. Leybourn before her 
death became insolvent, the Charity intended becomes void of course. Mrs. 
Frederick has also by her will bequeathed the sum of one Guinea yearly, for a 
sermon to be preached on Good Friday for ever. The subject to be on the merits, 
death and passion of our blessed redeemer. ‘ And thus much for Legacies.’ 

We proceed next to speak of the several Schools, and their endowments, and 
first of the free School which was founded by Robert Veysey Esquire, hereto¬ 
fore of Chimney in [P. 12] this County § and endowed by him and others in or 

about the year.for the instruction and education of all Boys that are fit to 

be taught Latin in the parish of Bampton, and its several Hamlets, namely— 
Weald, Lew, Haddon, Aston, Coat, Chimney, Yelford, Shifford, and Bnghthamp- 
ton. — But whether the master is by the foundation Rules and Orders of the said 
School, obliged to teach all such Boys that shall be sent to him free of expence, 
or whether he has not a right to demand something for their education is what I 
am at a loss to determine with precision.— I shall therefore only observe farther, 


$ He died Feb. 15th, 1699, and was interred at Shifford. 







159 


APPENDIX NO. XXL 

that the late Reverend Mr. Middleton, who was Master of this School upwards 
ot Fifty years, demanded Half a Crown for entrance and one Shilling per 
quarter tor each Boy placed on the Foundation, and the Rev. Mr. Smith, who 
succeeded him had Five Shillings entrance and Five Shillings per quarter, so 
that there seems to he nothing fix’d or certain respecting this matter, nor is the 
master’s salary more permanent or settled than the terms seem to be for teaching. 
This depends intirely on the rent of the (T. 13] three Closes, which are now let 
at the enormous sum of fi'ty pounds ten shillings per annum, being more than 
double the former rents. 

But we pass on to observe that to this School is annexed an English one, for 
the education of ten Boys in Reading, Writing and Arithmetic, which was endow¬ 
ed by Mrs. Mary Frederick, and her Sisters in the year 1783; the Salary of 
which [if I am rightly inform’d] is Sixteen pounds per annum, being the interest, 
arising from four hundred pounds stock in the four per cent Consols. And the 
late Mrs. Susanna Frederick has, by her will, bequeathed the interest of two hun¬ 
dred pounds, new South Sea Annuities for the support of the Sunday School at 
Bampton for ever. There is also another Charity School in this Town, for the 
instruction of six Boys and six Girls, in the first rudiments of Learning, said to 
be endowed by Mrs. Mary Crofts; * who was Aunt to the late Frederick’s 
family. The salary is about five pounds per annum ; but in what year or 
how long it is since this little School was first established, I have not as yet been 
able to learn. 

Thus have I given from the most authentic information, I possibly could col¬ 
lect, a particular account of all the existing Charities, that have been given for the 
use and benefit of the poor. We shall next proceed, agreeably to our plan, briefly 
to describe the several Estates given for the repairs of the Church; and the 
first that we shall mention is that occupied by Leonard Carter, which consists of 
a Close adjoining to Clanfield Lane, containing four acres, six cow commons in 
Weald meadorv, and one acre of arable land, lying in a place called moor furlong, 
Present rent nine pounds per annum. 

Secondly, Three acres of arable Land occupied by William Townsend, two 
of which lie in Wright’s field, in the furlong shooting towards Barn-Ley, the 
other acre or rather two lands, are in moor furlong, Present rent two Guineas 
a year. 

Thirdly, Two acres or more properly four Lands in Bampton field, one lying 
in each field, now occupied by John Probits, at the yearly rent of one pound nine 
shillings. Fourthly, A Close of pasture at Lew, situate [P. 15] near the premises 
of the late John Hinton, containing by estimation three acres, now in the occu¬ 
pation of John Colling wood, at the yearly rent of five Pounds, f 

I might here offer some further remark on the abuse of charitable Donations 
in general, but having far exceeded the bounds of my intended plan, I shall con¬ 
clude by just observing, that [P. 16] there are or w'ere four other houses belong¬ 
ing to the parish said to be situate in a part of the Town called Rosemary Lane; 
biit I cannot say which are the houses, or whether they are now standing or fal¬ 
len down. 

A Recapitulation of the several Rents, Gifts, &c. mentioned in the 

fore 

Appleton Estate, per annum 
Lower moor Close, and Lake- 
Upper moor Close 
Brookfast furlong Close 
Shilton Estate 


* Slie died in October, 1719. 

f On the north west end of this Close, are standing two houses with large gardens adjoining, the 


GOING WORK. 

50 

0 

0 

Riddy Close 

27 

0 

0 

21 

0 

0 


27 

0 

0 


24 

0 

0 




160 


HISTORY OF BAMPTON, 


Thompson’s Gift 
Wilmot’s Gift 

Mrs. Dewe’s Legacy at 5 per C. 

Mrs. Snell’s at Ditto 

Mr. Leverett’s, at 4£ per cent 


6 0 0 
2 0 0 
10 0 0 
10 0 3 

2 5 4 


Total £179 5 0 

A large Sum, which if properly applied might he the means of doing much 
good. But let not the poor make these Charities a pretence to Idleness, but let 
them learn to be frugal, honest, and industrious; then, with the blessing of God 
and the assistance of these Charities, they might support themselves, except in 
very dear times, without relief from the Parish. Finis 




XX11. ORDERS AND STATUTES FOR THE FREE SCHOOL AT 
BAMPTON, IN THE COUNTY OF OXON, AS AGREED ON BY 
THE VISITORS, JAN. 14, 1731-2. 

These statutes are copied from a printed paper, and are here gi s en as a curiosity, lor there is no proof 
that they possess any authority. 

1. That the School-master be orthodox for religion, and of a godly con¬ 
versation. 

2. That he he well qualified to teach the Latin and Creak tongues. 

3. That there be Morning and Evening Prayers in a Godly Preeompos’d set 
form duly observed. 

4. That on Wednesdays and Fridays and all Saint’s Days the School-master 
bring or cause to be brought all bis scholars to Prayers in the Parish Church, and 
see that they be taught their catechisms according to the Form of the church of 
England, with some proper explanation of the same. 

5. That the Hours of school he from 6 o’clock to 11 in the morning, and 
from 1 to 5 in the afternoon all the summer time, Viz. — From Lady-day to 
Michaelmas, and in winter from 8 o’clock to eleven, in the Morning, and 
from 1 till 4 in the afternoon. 

6. That all boys fit to he taught Latin of the parish of Bampton, viz. Bamp- 
ton, Weald, Lew, Haddon, Aston, Conte, Chimney, Slnfford, Brighl-hampton, 
and Yelford, be admitted in the said school paying each of’em to the Master 
2 shillings and sixpence for entrance, and afterwards quarterly, 1 shilling. 

7. If the School-master shall think fit to teach English, such scholars, so 
taught shall pay 5 shillings entrance, and 5 shillings quarterly; and shall be 
obliged to pay for a whole quarter, if they come to school any part thereof. 

8. That the schoolmaster constantly reside in the town of Bampton, and in 
case he shall accept of any preferment inconsistent with such residence, then 


one occupied by James Saunders, the other by William Hoar the former of which the late Farmer Hanks 
lived in many years without paying any rent, or acknowledgement for the same, and when he removed 
to Bampton, he left his Son Thomas in the quiet possession thereof, who resided in it several years 
and afterwards sold it to James Saunders for the sum of twelve Guineas. The other house has within 
these few years past been bought and sold thice or four times, for Seventeen or Eighteen pounds each 
time. There was also another house standing a few years ago on this very spot ; but it having fallen 
greatly to decay, — was taken down, and the occupier whose name was Brocks, sold most of the mate¬ 
rials to a late opulent Farmer at I.ew. These notwithstanding they have been claimed by the present 
and former occupiers, as their own, areundoubtedly parish houses; for I am very well informed they 
used to he repaired by part of the Timber that growed on the said Close : and accordin'* to Mr Frede¬ 
rick’s Table, a lease of these Houses and the Land belonging to tho Church, was made in the year 1672 
bv the then Feoffees. To which may he added live cow commons in I.ew heath, and a Land in Lew 
field, said to he pait and parcel of this Estate, which Commons & Land have been in possession of the 
Hanks s tamily, more than half a Century. 




APPENDIX, NO XXIII. 161 

lm place shall he ipso facto void, as if he was naturally dead, and the Visitors 
shall proceed to a new Election. 

1819 Rent ol the school-closes, say — iMO 10 s. per annum. 

School-house, Cottage, &c. 12 0 

XXIII. INSCRIPTIONS FROM BAMPTON CHURCH AND 

CHURCH-YAItD. 

AINSLEY, Eliza William, daughter of William and Eliza Ainsley of Bengal ; 
died June 29, 1806, aged 2 days. 

Amphlett, llev. Dr. Joseph, many years vicar of Bampton. Mary his wife 
dr. of John Amson of Lees in the co. of Chester, esq. This monument was 
erected by their niece Eliza Buckworth. 

Andrews, Mary and Elizabeth, drs. of Charles and Elizabeth A. Mary d. Oct. 6, 
1769, in infancy, Elizabeth d. Dec. 1, 1791, aged 17. 

-Joseph, Esq. and Ann his w. He d. Dec. 30, 1806 : she d. Jan. 12, 1802. 

-Joseph, jun. Esq. d. Ap. 22, 1828. 

-John, s. of Win. and Elizabeth, d. Feb. 21, 1819, aged 1 y. and 9 m. 

-Wm, s. of Wm. and Elizabeth, d. Oct. 18, 1841, aged 36. 

—- Charles, d. Jan. 3. 1803, aged 83. Elizabeth w. of Charles, d. April 

18, 1805, aged 39. Robert, son of Ch. and Elizabeth, d. Feb. 11, 1841, 
aged 64. Ruth his wife, died April 17, 1816, aged 61. Mary-Ann their dr. 
died Dec. 23, 1815, aged 19. 

Andrews Joseph, d. Aug. 2, 1842, aged 31. 

Angell, Jane, w. of John, d. Oct. 3, 1818, aged 41. also two of their children, 
William d. Oct. 19, 1818, aged 6. Sarah d. Oct. 21, 1818, aged 4. 

-Elizabeth w. of John, died Nov. 1, 1836, aged 57. 

Arnatt, Jonathan, of Lew, died Jan. 21, 1799, aged 61. Elizabeth A., wife of 
Jon. A. died April 18, 1779, aged 38. Elizabeth second wife of Jon. A., d. 
Nov. 22. 1833, aged 90. also 3 infant children of the above, also Joseph A., 
of Lew, d. April 22, 1831, aged 17. Jonathan A., of Lew, died Dec. 20, 
1844, aged 63. 

BAKER, William, d. April 26, 1836, aged 89. 

-Martha, w. of Thomas B., d. Feb. 23, 1837, ag. 34. 

Kind angels guard iny sleeping dust, Till Christ shall come to raise the just; 
Then may I wake in sweet surprize, And in my Saviour’s image rise. 

.- Hannah w. of William, d. May 5, 1824 aged 65. 

__Charles Henry, son of Charles and Mary B., d. May 10, 1838, aged 11 

months, also Fanny, their dr., d. Oct. 11, 1840, ag. 1 year 9 months. 
Banting, James, d. Nov. 8, 1822, ag. /3. Martha his wile d. No\. 27, 1830, 
ag. 81, 

Barker, R.. A. M. obiit Feb. 27, 1778, ag. 35. 

Bartlett, John, son of Richard and Mary, d. April.. also 

Mary w. of Richard B. d. May 7, 1729, ag. 45. 

_Thomas, and Ann his w., he d. Feb. 12, 1779, ag. 71 ; sne died 

Aug. 20, 1759. 

»..»,,. ..— Thomas, died J une 10, 1813, ag. 71. 

Loving, beloved, in all relations true, 

Exposed to follies, but subdued by few ; 

Reader reflect and copy if you can, 

The social virtues of this liouest man. 

_Ann, wife of Thomas Bartlett, d. Jan. 14, 1836, aged 85—also Sarah, 

dr of Thomas and Ann Bartlett, d. March 18, 1812, ag. 30. 

____John, of Aston, died May 21, 1827, aged 72.—Mary, his w., died Jail. 

5, 1815, ag*’d 60. 

My life was burdensome to me, 

Till Christ iny God did set me free 
















162 


HISTORY OF BAMPTON. 


From all sorrow grief and pain : 

We trust in Christ to rise again. 

--Emily, Violetta, and Frances, daughters] of Joseph and Elizabeth 

B. Em. d. Jan. 16, 1832, aged 5 ; Viol. d. Jan. 30, 1832, aged 7 ; Frances w., 

of George Knapp, d. May 17, 1837, aged 24.-also children, died in 

infancy. 

-Thomas, d. Aug. 15, 1831, aged 56. 

--William, d. March 9, 1835, aged 57. 

B aston, William, d. June 30, 1771, ag. 67. 

-Jonathan, d. June 8, 1787, ag. 63. 

Bateman, Edward, d. May 21, 182”, ag. 72. 

-Emma, daughter of John and Mary, died Nov. 29, 1827 aged 3 years 

9 months. 

-James Johnson, son of Thomas Hicks and Anna Maria Bateman, died 

March 14, 1838, aged 4 months. 

Bates, Mary. 

Draw near to me, my children dear, 

See where your mother lies : 

Close in the dust until the day. 

Our bodies shall arise. 

To part with you great grief it was, 

More joys for to insue : 

I hope for mercy at that day, 

And there to meet with you. 

Batts, Mary wife of William, d. Dec. 11, 1834, aged 72. 

Reader, live well, and fear no sudden call, 

For soon or late grim death will seize us all; 

A life well spent will look death in the face ; 

My glass is run, and thine doth waste apace. 

-Elizabeth, w. of llichaid, late of Lew, d. June 28, 1812, ag. 26. 

Short was the time I was a wife, Before I did resign my life. 

Unto my blessed Saviour’s trust, Hoping to rise among the just. 

Bennet, John, died Jan. 6, 1817, ag. 87. 

Bishop, Ann, d. May 7, 1806, ag. 93. 

-Elizabeth, dr. of Richard and Ann, d. Jan. 5, 1735, ag. 41. 

Brandon, Georgiana, d. May 2, 1843, ag. 21 years 8 months. 

Brasier, Joseph, son of Joseph and Mary B., died Dec. 1770. 

Breakstear, William, gentleman, d. Aug. 23, 1841 ag. 63. 

Bullen, Susan Dorothy, d. Sep, 1, 1831, aged 17. 

Bullock, George, son of Win. and Ellizab. B., d. March 19, 1836, ag. 4 yrs. 
10 ms. 

Here lies a child to parents dear, Christ called him hence his joys to share ; 
We hope in Heaven we shall him find, Which heals the troubles of our mind. 

Bunce, ., and Mary, his w., he d. Sep. ...17... ag. 71, she d.... 1731, ag. 78. 

Burrow, Rev. Thomas, 38 years vicar of Bampton, d. Jan. 30, 1837, aged 71. 
Busby, Mary, w. of John, d. Aug. 16, 1800, ag, 50. 

CARPENTER, John, died Dec. 27, 1790, ag. 74. 

Carr, Rev. Thomas William, B. A., late scholar on Jackson’s foundation at Mer¬ 
ton College, Oxford, d. Ap. 19, 1837, ag. 27. also Rev. George Carr, M. A., 
curate of Black Bourton, Oxon, d. June 5, 1840, ag. 35. Louisa C. d. Sep. 23. 
1840, ag. 73, & two ss. Also Louisa C. organist of this par., d. Dec. 1844, ag. 38. 
Carter, Ann, w. of Leonard, d. Sep. 20, 1766, ag. 63. also 3 children, Elizabeth 
d. May 6,1746, ag. 3 ; Edward d. Sep 3, 1717, ag. 1 ; Ann d. May 13, 1756,ag.9. 
-Leonard, died Dec, 27, 1772, aged 59. 

•-Thomas and Ann, s. and dr. of Leonard and Mary C. Ann died June 25, 

1782, aged 12 y.; Thos. died May 1, 1792, aged 8. 

--Michael, died Jan. 5, 1817, aged 72. 















APPENDIX, NO XXT. 


167 


Hudson, Rob., anti Jane, his w., be d. March 20, 1703, ag. 05, she d. Nov. 5 
1774, aged 75. 

As those we love decay, we die in part, 

String after string is loosen’d from the heart, 

'rill lengthen’d life at last, bnt breathing clay, 

Without one pang is glad to fall away. 

-Ilobt, d. Jan. 10, 1805, ag. 70. Ann, his dr., d. Ap. 15, 1S37, ag. 2 ys 8 ms. 

The dear delights we here enjoy, And fondly call our own, 

Are but short favour lent us now, To be repaid anon. — 

Distrust and darkness of a future state 
Make poor mankind so fearful of their fate : 

Death in itself is nothing, bnt we fear 
To be wo know not what, we know not where. 

Hurcomb, Thomas, son of Wm. and Sarah H., died October 15, 1775, aged 17. 

-Wm, d. Jan. 1, 17 SO, ag. 03. 

- Sarah, w. ofWm, d. Feb. 13, 1787, ag. 51. 

-William, son of William and Sarah Hurcomb, died July 3, 1783, ag. 3G. 

- Maria, w. of John Hurcomb, d. Jan. 8, 1811, aged 91. 

-John, d. March 17, 1843, aged 84. 

Hutton, Ann, w. of Edward, and dr. of Ghs. and Mary Iliggins, of Halford, Berks 
d. July 12, 1799, aged 59 years. 

J EEV ES, Edward, late of Lew, d. Dec. 28, 1831, aged 79.— also Thomas Jeeves, 
d. Feb. 28, 1832. aged 7(5. 

Johnson, Thomas, of Lew, d. Apr. 1, 1805, aged G5. 

Here lies the only comfort of my life, 

Who was the best of husbands to a wife, 

Since he is not, no joy l e’er shall have. 

Till laid by him within his silent grave. 

Here we shall sleep and quietly remain 

Till by God’s power we meet in Heaven again. 

--Eliza, his wife, d. Feb. 9, 1824, aged 77. 

----Sarah, w. of Thos. d. July 7, 1809, ag. 64. 

-James, d. Nov. 12, 18 iG, aged G7 yrs. Also Mary his w., d. Aug. 19, 

1845, ag. Gl. 

Here lies the mortal part of a beloved wife, 

Prudent in all her conduct when in life ; 

A tender mother, faithful consort here; 

Lamented by her spouse and children dear; 

She died, but is not dead, for yet she lives 
With God and Christ, eternal life who gives. 

Mourn not her loss : she’s only gone before, 

And strive to follow her, to part no more. 

___ Samuel, d. Dec. 14, 17GS, aged Go. also Alice, his wife, d. Feb. 27, 1785. 

-Thomas,*d. Dee. 7, 1822, aged 75. 

._Thos, d. Ap. 17,1832, ag. 54. 

Hannah, wife of Thos, d. Nov. 1G, 1838, ag.G2. 


Jones, Elizabeth, w. of Samuel, of St. Clement Dane, London, 2d dr. of John and 
Ann King, innkeeper, of this parish, d. Oct. 2, 182G, aged 24. 

-John Orpwood, d. April 4, 1827, aged 28. 

_Mr. Samuel, late of St. Clement Dane, London, d. Feb. 18, 1835, aged 35. 

_Hannah Munro, dr. of Moses and Ann J., d. April 20, 1840, aged 15. 

K AVI, Thos, M. A. — “ Round the verge of a marble lying on the ground, now 

. .| os t : Hie jacet magistcr Thomas Ivavi, artium magister, quondam hujus 

ecclesue vicarius, qui obiit XXIIII die mensis Septembris, an. Dom. millesimo 

CCCC . cujus animae propitietur Dcus,” Rawlinson MS. This marble 

is now destroyed 

Kearsf, Mary, wife of Thomas, senior, of Black Bourton, d. Dec. 17, 1773, 

23 




















168 


IITSTOIIY OP B AMP TON, 

Priscilla, daughter of Robert and Mary, d. Sep. 7, 1799, aged 12. 
Kent, Anthony, d. Sep. 9, 1707, aged 27. 

King, Rachel, wife of Walter K., d. April 20, 178.3, aged 42 years. 

--Kezia, wife of Win King junior, d. April 20, 1824, aged 49 years. 

also Priscilla their daughter, d. Dec. 23, 1824, aged 19. 

-- Wm, sen. d. Jan. 20, 1801, aged 45. Sarah, his w. d. May 24, 1827, ag. 70. 

-William, late plumber and glazier &c. d. Jan. 29, 1837, aged 50. 

-J. S., d. Feb. 13, 1831, ag. 58. Ann, his wife, d. May 15, v 1842, ag. 04. 

Kn app, George, d. Jan. 18, 1792. 

- Catharine, wife of George, d. April 4, 1803. aged 70. 

LAMBETH, Elizth, w. of Thos L., d. June 17, 1804, ag. 75. Richard & Robert, 
their sons; d. in infancy. 

-Elizabeth, wife of James, d. Jan. 6, 1832, ag. 62. 

Deep interr’d in earth’s dark tomb, The mould’ring body lies; 

But the Christian from the tomb Shall soon triumphant rise. 

-- Simon Collins, d. July 31, 1837, aged 38. 

Weep not for me, my dear wife, But rather do rejoice. 

Though I was called away so soon, I was the Almighty’s choice. 

Lardner, Waller, Sen., of Bamptone, d. Jan. 7, 1702, aged 72. 

Stand still, kind reader, spend a tear Upon the dust that sleepeth here, 

And whilst you read this state of mine, Think of the glass that runs of thine. 
Laurence, ..., s. of Rich. & Sarah L., of Astell, d. April 11, 1756, ag. 62. 

Leake, John s. of Thos and Hannah, d. Oct. 2,1817, ag. 9 months. 

Beneath this stone an infant lies, Whose earth to ashes lent 
Hereafter may more glorious rise, Though not more innocent. 

—-Elizabeth, wife of Thos, d. Dec. 22, 1812, ag. 49. 

There is no age that death will spare, All ages, they must die ; 

Therefore to die let all prepare, To live eternally. 

-Thomas, d. July 4, 1819, aged 69. 

Leforestier, Louis, d. Ap. 8, 1841, aged 8 months. 

Leverid, Elizabeth, w. of John L., d. Aug 10, 1670. 

Lewis, Joseph, s. of John and Mary L., d. Oct. 29, 1774, ag. 29. 

Lindsey, Mary, w. of Humphrey L., of Coate, d. March 11, 1774, ag. 80. 

-Humphrey, of Coate, died June 5, 1775, aged 91. 

-Edward, d. Aug. 30, 1813, ag. 79. also Ann L., d. April 26, 1817, ag. C3. 

This stone presents before th’ unthinking throng 
Th’ instructive lesson, as they pass along; 

Shews them how frail they are, how wise ’twould be, 

To seek a fitness for eternity. 

Lissett, Rev. Rd, M. A., vicar of Ouiulle in Northamptonshire, d. Dec. 14, 1764, 
ag. 71. also Wm L., Gent., & Jane, his w., she d. Ap. 20, 1753. he d. Ap. 1, 1772. 

-Mr William, gent., d. Mar. 17, 1791, ag. 65. also Eliza, relict ofthe said 

W. L., d. Nov. 18, 1796, ag. 80. Mrs. Jane his sister, d. Dec. 31, 1799, ag. 69. 
Loder, Mrs Dorothy of Hinton, co. Berks, esq., relict of John Hancks late of 
Bampton, died 1702. [From the llawlinson MS.] 

MACE, Robert, d. Feb., 1682. 

Maccaughey, Ann Washington, d. March 22, 1798, ag. 5 y. — Richard M., 
d. June 27, 1802, aged 2 years 3 months and 6 days. 

Malam, Richard, d. July 13, 1773, ag. 88. John, and Mary his wife, he d. Sep. 

26, 1774, ag. 56. she d. July 24, 1775, ag. 54. 

Mander, John, esq., d. Ap. 7, 1809, ag. 62. Mrs. Sarah M., his mother, died 1788. 

also John Nabbs, & Elizabeth, his w., he d. Ap. 3, 1770. shed. March 6, 1769. 
Martin, Mrs. Elizabeth, died Sept. 17, 1799, aged 80. 

May, Mary, spinster, d. Jan. 3, 1804, aged 93. 

In faith she dies, within she lies Here underneath, though without breath. 

M f.rchant, Elizabeth, w., of William, d. July, 18, 1734, aged 53. 

M grrick^ di^y j d !*i tei of J oliin [in d ^l. nn^ l^vniccl J [in* 18^ 17 88^ r ^0 * — nls o 

















APPENDIX, NO XXI. 


1G9 


IT). 


Ann, w. of John M., buried Sep. 18, 1772, ag. 39. — also Wm, s. of John and 
Ann, buried Feb. 3, 1778, aged (5. 

Affliction’s sore long time 1 boro, Physicians were in vain, 

Till the Lord pleased Death should me seize, To ease me of my pain. 
Miller, David, second s. of David and Martha, d. Mar. 7, 1804, ag. 4 y. 11 
Beneath a lovely infant lies, To earth his body lent 
More glorious shall hereafter rise, Though not more innocent; 

When the archangel’s trump shall blow, And souls to bodies join, 

Millions will wish their lives below, Had been as short as thine. 

M iller, David, died Feb. 27, 1829, aged 73. 

Monk, Jn. and Mary bis w. He d. Jan. 21,1787, ag. 59. She d. Dec. 19,1809, ag.75. 
—— Elizabeth, d. Feb. 24, 182G, aged G2. 

You that are young, prepare to die, I once was young, but here 1 lie, 

My marriage-bed lies in the dust, Christ is my spouse, in whom 1 trust. 

-Mary, d. of William and Mary M., d. Sep. 21 , 1851, aged 2 G. 

Kind angels guard this sleeping dust, Till Christ shall come to raise the just; 
Then may she wake in sweet surprise, And in her Saviour’s image rise. 
John, died Oct. 24, 1887, aged 52. 


Farewell, my wife and children dear, I’m gone to rest, you need not fear. 

In love we lived ; in peace I died, You crav’d my life, but God denied ; 
Grieve not for me, ’tis in vain, l hope in Heaven to meet again. 

-Wm, late of Aston, died Jan. 16, 1858, ag. 82. 

Keep death and judgment always in your eye, 

None are fit to live who arc not fit to die : 

Make use of present time, because you must 
Take up your lodgings, shortly, in the dust: 

'Tis dreadful to behold the setting sun, 

And night approaching ere your work is done. 

Morse. Richard, died Dec. 3, 1817, aged 52. 

M ynciiinge, Roberte, of .. d. Sep. 14, 1G11. 

Newman, Mr. Edw., d. Jan. 8 , 1775, aged 68 . 

ORPWOOD, Wm, d, Aug. 13, 1709, aged 28. Wm, d. June 24, 1731, ag. 58. 
Wm, buried July 23, 1750, aged 83. 

--Thos, and Mary,his w., he d. Dec. 27, 1775 ag. 88 . she d. May 21, 1770, 

ag. 75 .—Ann their grddr. buried Feb. 1, 1771, ag. 24. 

_William, son of Jn and Hannah,[d. Jan. 3, 1779. ag. 50 years. 

- Hannah, w. of John. O., d. Oct. 13, 1800, ag. 77. 

-Jn, d. Feb. 20 , 1807, ag. 86 . 

-Elizth, d. Jan. 5, 1811, ag. 77. 

There is no age that death will spare, All ages they must die; 
Therefore to die let all prepare To live eternally. 

PALMER, Barb., wid., eldest dr. of Thos. Horde, esq., who d. Jan. 7, 1681 ag. 



4 yrs. — Hannah their dr. 

d. May 6 , 17..2 ag. 8 yrs. 

- William, d. May 23, 1799, ag. 63. Ann P., bis mother, d. Dec.18 


Pettifer, Sarah, w. of Edwd, d. March 27, 1775, ag. 32. Eleanor, dr. of Wm 
and Ann P.,d. March 16,1781, ag. 10 months. 

__Elizth, w. of Edwd, d. Jan. 26, 1826, ag. 73. Edwd P., d. June 20 , ag. 89. 

_____-John, son of Edwd and Elizth, d. April 1, 1706, ag. 17 yrs. 

Philips, Stephen. Hicjacet Stephanas Philips, S.T. P Obiit 1684. 

_Rev. Step., 1). D. d. Aug. 20,1784. ag. 46. mon. erected by bis widow Mary, 

dau. of Thos. Cooke. . . . o i • 

Stepiiano Philips, S. T. P. liujus ecclesiae vicario, Arcnidiacono Salopiae, 

ecclesia* cathedralis Herefordensis canonico, Maria, vidua ejus maestis-dme, 
















170 


HISTORY OF BAMPTON, 


(Rcvcrcndi Thomce Cooke Cilia) marito optimo II. M. P. quro ex concordi 
Chiu illo eonjugio septem fiIios cnixa est. Ne mireris, lector, tot honores in 
iinum congestos. vivus quippe omnibus parem sc praestitit, moriens superio- 
reni. Obiit Aug. 20, anno aetatis 4G,— Domini 1784. 

Pin cot , Eliztli. (lied Apr. 29, 1805, aged 74. 

Long in this woild I did remain, My latter end was grief and pain. 

And when the Lord he thought it best, He took me to a place of rest. 

Plaster, Win. and Mary, his wife, d. June G, 1797, ag. 35.—Sarah their inf. dr. 

--Rob., s. of Rob. and Mary, d. Apr. 21. 1788, ag. 21. 

-Rob., d. Feb. 15, 1810, ag. 78. Mary w. of Rob., d. Aug. 23, 1811, ag. 90. 

*-Maigaret, w. of d. May 21, 1818, ag. 25. 

Plymmyswode, Thomas. Hie jacetmag. Tho. PI. quondam vicarius dc Bamp. cujus 
animae propieietur Deus. Amen. 

Powell, Sam., oh. Dec. 31, 1715, ag. 20 years. [From the Rawl. MS.] 

Price, Mary, vv. of Walter, late of Marcyhampton, Glost. d. Dec. 28, 1845, ag. 95. 

Pkuce, Jane, w.of Jn, d.Oct. 3.1813, ag.81. Mary Hudson, d. July 7, 1817, ag. 78. 

Pryor, Robt. d. March, 1701. Mary, his w., d. Dec., 1792. Win P., d. Jan. 18, 
1828, ag. 80. Eliztli, his w., d. Aug. 21, 1832, ag. 78 Wm P., d. June 25., 1751, 
ag. G2. Mary his w. d. May 19 1823, ag. 89. 

Posey, M ary. w. of John, died. ag. G3. 

REYNOLDS, Rev. Wm., M. A., double portionist of I*., d. Jan. 28, 1750, ag. 4G. 
Raciiael, bis w», d. Sep. 18, 1771, ag. 74. Mary, tlieir dau., d. Dec. 23,1741, 
ag. 19 

H. S. E. 0 ulielmI'S Reynolds, A. M ; Ccllcgii Exonicnsis nliqu^ndo socius, 
Scholar civitatis Exon: publicae Archididasculus, Dcin liujus ecclesiae. per 
annos duplex portionista, vir ob mores amicissimos atque animi benevol- 
entiam, ob eruditionem multiplicem, et in litcris praecipue criticis cximium 
ingenii acumen, spectahilis: tabe consumptus ineluctabili, diem obiit supre- 
mnm, Jan. 28, 1750, Anno aetatis 4Gto. Una condormit Maria fdia; qnae ex 
Racbaelc uxore proles unica morte praematura Patrem antevertit: obiit nem- 

pe Dec. 23, 1714, anno* nata 19.- Raciiael Reynolds vidua ob. 18 Sept. 

1771, actat. 74. 

Ricketts, Betty, w. of Joseph, late of Aston, d. March 11,.ag. 79. 

Farewell my children & relations dear, I’m gone to rest; you have no cuase to fear. 

Grieve not for me; in time apply; To meet that sentence all are doom’d to die : 

So shall we meet again to part no more, But live with Christ in peace for evermore. 

Ridge, Thos. d. May 23, 1792, ag. 82. Eliztli, his w. d. Sep. 18, 17(55. 

Roberts, Sarah, yv. of Wm, d. Oct. 1G, 1791, ag. 59. Maria, dr. of Wm and Sarah 
R., d. March 11, 1779. ag. 12.— Sarah d. March 11,1832, ag. 71. — Tabitha 

R., d. June G, 1832, ag. 68. — Wm, esq., d. Dec.th, 1813, ag. 77. — also 

Eleanor Herbert, d. Dec. 21, 1310, aged 82. 

--Maria, dr of Wm and Mary JL, d. Sep. 17, 1822, ag. 20. — Fred. s. of 

Wm and Mary R., d. in bis inf.—Mary IL, d. Nov. 3, 1830, ag. 33. 

Robins, Jas, s. of Levi and Jane, d. May 28, 1818, ag. 8. Ann, tlieir dr. d. June 
8 , 182G, ag. 2 months. 

Rose, Geo., (s. of Jas R., solr., and FJizth, bis w.) d. June 12, 1813, ag. 26. 

SAM MONS, Ann, vv. of Thomas, d. Apr. 28, 1805, ag. 67.—Thos S., d. Oct. 
27, 1779, ag. 52. 

Sandelands, Eliztli, w. of Jn S., d. Jan. 18, 1701. Eliztli, d. of John and Eliztli. 

Savory, Jn. d. Jan, 3, 1808, ag. 23. 

Searey, Ann, d. Sept. 19, 1780. Jn. S., d. Dec. 27, 1787, ag. 77. 

-Charlotte, w. of Wm, d. May 21, 1808, ag. 40. Wm, s.ofWm & Charlotte, 

-Eliztli, yv. of Wm, d. Sept. 21, 1817, ag. 38. 

My husband and my children dear, It is God’s will that 1 am here, 

As 1 am, so must you he, Prepare therefore to follow me. 

-Catharine, w. of John, d. March 31, 1804, ag. G7. 

A Christian true, a friend sincere, In all her actions just, 











171 


APPENDIX, NO XXIII. 

A tender faithful wife lies here, Consigned to native dust. 

Richard & Charlotte, their inf. chiln. also John, died April 27, 1807, ag. 72. 
Peace to thy gentle shade; thy soul is free; Death’s but the gate to immortality ! 

-William, died Oct. 20, 1829, ag. 63. 

Here lies a careful & industrious man, Who did by labour measure out life’s span, 
But now his latest grain of sand is run, And all his care and all his labour done. 

So, pray, for me no pity take, But love my children for my sake. 

--Thomas, son of John and Catharine, d. Dec. 17, 1811, ag. 33. [Inscription 

in poetry, same as for Orpwood Elizth.] 

-John, died January 2, 1821, ag. 56. 

Man’s life, what is it? ’Tis a flower, Looks fresh and dies within an hour. 

How frail is man ! how short his breath, In midst of life we are in Death. 
Sheppard, W. H., esq., 1715. 

Shingleton, Mary, w. of Joseph S. sen, d. May 4, 1774, ag. 72. 

Through all affliction God great comfort gave, 

And laid me peaceful in the silent grave, 

From which I hope to rise my God to see 
To dwell with Christ to all eternity. 

-Jos., sen., d. Feb. 3, 1777, ag. 80. 

-Sarah, w. of Jos. d. March 22, 1798, ag. 58. Jos. S. d. Dec. 20, 1813, 

aged 81. 

Shingleton, Geo Bryan, d. Sep. 11, 1834, ag. 60. 

Silver, S., 1711, ag. 61, [From the Rawl. MS.] 

Sims, John, d. Jan. 5, 1823, ag. 82. Margaret, his w. d. Feb. 21, 1823, ag. 78. 
While here on earth I did remain, My latter end was grief and pain, 

At length the Lord has thought it best To take me to a place of rest. 

-Elizabeth, buried 1751, in the 80th year of her age. 

Skinner, John, son of John and Jane, d. March 41, 1781, ag. 2 yrs. 3 ms. 

-Ann, dr of John, d. May 1, 1787, in her infancy. 

• -Robt, and Elizth, his w., he d. Jan. 28, 1792, ag. 87. she d. Jan. 9, 

1790, aged 87.] Beneath this stone are laid an honest pair, 

Who three score years did various changes share; 

Tho’ Heaven decreed them in an humble state, 

Yet were their lives more happy than the great, 

Blush then, ye rich and learn from hence to know, 
Contentment.bliss below, 

* -Thos, d. Sept. 9, 1802, ag. 63. Mary his wife d. Dec. 6, 1813, ag. 77. 

-- Jane, wife of John, d. May 20, 1811, aged 67. 

A patient Christian through a suffering life, A tender mother and a loving wife, 
Though all shall fade, and Nature’s self must die, Her pure and virtuous deeds to 
also John, her husband, d. Ap. 2, 1813, ag. 71. [Heaven shall fly. 

Smith, Win, died March 15, 1815, aged 61. Thos, son of Win & Ann, died in Lon¬ 
don, Dec. 31, 1793, aged 17 yrs. 9 mths. George, died in infancy, also Ann, wife 
of Wm, died Jan. 26, 1840, aged 76. 

Snell, John, infant, died Sept. 3, 1691. Ann Snell, infant, died Sept. 12, 1096. 

-Reverend Thos, S. 1'. B. [Lat.inscrip.] Mrs Elizth, his widow, daughter of 

the late Jno. Frederic esq., died Jan, 2, 1788, aged 81. [Latin inscription.] 
Sparrowiiawk, Wm, jun., d. Oct. 10, 1753, ag. 39. Mary his wife, d. Jan. 23, 1763, 
ag. 64. Wm, their son, d. Nov. 30, 1797, ag. 60. also seven infant children. 

---Robt, d. Feb. 14, 1819, ag. 75. Sarah, his w., d. Nov. 1, 1794, ag. 37. 

also Thomas and John, their sons, died in infancy. 

Spencer, Samuel, died May 8, 1841, aged 63. 

Stephens, Mary Clara, w., of Fred., grocer ofBamp., died March 15, 1844, ag. 32. 
Stone, Robt, d. Jan. 19, 1822, ag. 78. Sarah, his wife, d. Nov. 21, 1831, ag. 80. 

-Robert. A husband kind, a father dear, A faithful friend is buried here, 

Call’d hence to sleep in peaceful dust, Till Christ shall raise him with the just. 

-Thomas, son of Robert and Sarah, died June 23, 1831, aged 56. 

24 

















172 


HISTORY OF BAMPTON. 


Sweet, Elizabeth, died March 8, 1841, aged 85. 

My eyes grew dim, my life it’s thread has spun, 

My soul is flown to God, from whence it sprung; 

Wearied with age my hoary head declined, 

In hopes through Christ some better place to And. 
also Mary, daughter of the above, died July 29, 1833, aged 38. 

TAYLOR, 4 daus. of Onesimus and Hannah : Mary, d., Aug. 6, 1752, ag. 1 month; 
Phebe, d. Ap. 11. 1757, ag. 4 yrs; a second Phebe, d. Feb. 1, 1761 ag. 2 yrs 
& 10 mths; Sophia, d. Ap. 5, 1762, ag. 9 mths. t 

• -Onesimus, d. Ap. 10, 1778, ag. 47 yrs. and Hannah, his w., d. Oct. 31, 

1796, ag. 76 yrs. 

-Robert T., son of On. & Han., d. Dec.13, 1804, ag. 47 yrs. 

• -James T., son of On. & Han., d. Oct. 30, 1828, ag. 63 yrs: Esther, his 

w., d. March 12, 1829, ag. 67 yrs. 

• -Robt T., son of Jas & Est., d. Mar. 25, 1798 an infant. 

-Ann T„ second dau. of Henry and Ann, d. Nov. 30, 1827 ag. 2 yrs & 10 

mths. 

Teeling, Elizth, w., of Thosof Winkfield, Berks, d. Ap. 12, 1787, ag. 70. Rebecca, 
dr. of Wm & Rebecca Fitchew, d. July 26, 1789, ag. 4 yrs. 3 mths. also Hannah, 
dr of Thos and Elizabeth Teeling died Oct. 9, 1789, ag. 34. 

While pale disease upon her vitals prey’d, Her strength exhausted and her frame 

decay’d, 

With painful steps life linger’d to the grave, When human art had lost the power 

to save. 

Yet still kind Heaven disposed her virtuous mind, To bear with patience, and to 

decith resign’d. 

Thomson, George, obiit 28 Novemb., 1603. [Inscription in poetry see Page 155.] 
Townsend, Rd, d. Sep. 12, 1771, ag. 64. Elizabeth, his w., d. Ap. 16,1800, ag. 86 . 

-Th., of Aston, died July 26, 1770, ag. 75. Eliz.liisw. d. May 14, 1787, 

aged 82. 

-Richard, late of Aston, d. June 25, 1792, aged 50. 

.-John, died June 9, 1803, aged 71. 

Dear wife and children, pray agree, To serve the Lord and follow me : 

Serve God in time whilst you have breath, There’s no repentance after death. 

-Elizabeth, dr. of Wm and Ann, died July 2, 1784, aged 22. 

Reader, from hence these lessons take, View death as always near; 

Be wean’d from earthly things, and make Thy soul thy chiefest care. 

-William, d. June 19, 1802, ag65. Ann, his v., d. Sep. 11, 1818, ag. 82. 

-Elizabeth, wife of Thomas, died Jan. 23, 1802, aged 70. 

Laden with years, by sickness prest, This pious matron came to rest, 

A fair example of good life, She was a chaste and loving wife, 

Her house did show her prudent care, She knew both how to spend and spare, 
Mourn not, she’s gone where tears do cease, Her upright life did end in peace, 
also Thomas Townsend, died April 3, 1801, aged 63. 

--Robert died April 10, 1827, aged 68. 

Farewell my wife and children dear, It was the Lord that called me here, 
Short was the warning which he gave, When I was summon’d to the grave, 
But in the Lord I put my trust, And hope to rise among the just, 
also Mary, his wife, died Feb. 1, 1833, aged 68. 

-John, d. Mar. 15, 1829, ag. 72. Ann, his w., d. Jan. 6, 1821, ag. 59. 

-Robert Caleb, d. Jan. 19, 1832, ag. 26. Mary Ann, dr. of Rob. Cal. & 

Lydia T., in infancy. Thomas died Feb. 20, 1833, aged 43. 

-Joseph, d. June 10, 1833, ag. 61. Jane, his wife, died June 16, 1837, 

aged 64, also Charlotte, their dr., i ed Dec. 14, aged 30. 

-Wm, late of Aston, d. Nov. 21, 1837, ag. 82. Thomas T., late of Cliig- 

well, son of the above. also Wm Townsend, d. Oct. 5, 1840, ag. 50 

years. 





















173 


APPENDIX, NO XXIII. 

-Tlios, d. May 9, 1811, ag. 74. Elizth, his w., d. June 17, 1843, ag. 79. 

also John, William, David, and Sarah, his brothers and sisters; Jn, d. Mar. 28, 
1831, ag. G8. Wm, d. Nov. 29, 1825, ag. 60. David, d. Nov. 30, 1821, ag. 49. 

- -Ann, wife of John, died July 28, 1813, aged 74. 

Dear reader, ’tis a serious thing to die, Thou soon-must find it so as well as I : 
If for our works we bliss or woe receive, Dear reader, ’tis a serious thing to live. 

•-John, of Coate, died Sep. 1, 1818, aged 72. 

VA1SEY, John, infant, died Nov. 23, 1724. 

W ALKER, Jos., esq., d. Jan. 1, 1803, ag. 63. Elizth, his w., d. Mar. 9,1818, ag. 63. 
Ward, Jane, wife of Jas, dr. of John & Jane Skinner, d. Jan. 12, 1831, ag. 48. 

also Sarah, mother of Jas W., died Aug. 8, 1834, aged 90. 

Wat rs, David, d. May 1, 1811, ag. 61. also Wm Munt W., son of the above by 
Elizabeth, his wife, died Dec. 28, 1813. 

Wenman, Anthony, died.3, 1715. Richard, junior, died Nov. 8, 1740. 

Who gave me life took it away. And turned my body into clay. 

My time was short, and so may thine, Therefore prepare thyself in time. 

-Richard, died Sept. 2/, 1722. [Inscrip, see Mary Batts.] 

Whitaker, Maria, w. of Wm Henry esq., of Fyfield, Berks, d. Aug. 2, 1839, ag. 53. 
White, William, and John, sons of John and Ann W. Willm died Aug, 24,1712, 
aged 2. John died Aug. 26, 1712. 

Wiat, Elizabeth, wife of Dr. W., died anno 1688. arms, per pale. 

Williams, John, & Ann, his wife, she died Aug. 19, 1790, aged 63. he died Jan. 17, 
1801, aged 13. also their sons Charles and John died in their infancy. 
Winstanley. Rev. Wm Bankes, Master of the Grammar School in this town died 
Sept. 30, 1843, aged 56. 

Winstanley, Rev. John Robinson, D. D. a vicar of this parish, died Dec. 36. 1843. 

Winter, Sarah, wife, of Joseph, died 1797, aged 15. Richard, died. 

It is said that this was the same Richard Winter, Tax-gatherer, of whom 
some wit wrote the following clever epigram : 

Here comes Richard Winter, collector of taxes; 

I advise you to pay him whatever he axes ; 

And that very soon, and without any flummery, 

For though his name’s winter his acts are all Summary. 

Wright, William, died Aug. 29, 1822, aged 59. 

O Lord turn not thy lace away From him that lies prostrate 
Lamenting sore his sinful life Before thy mercy’s gate, 

A gate which opens wide to those, That do lament their sin. 

Shut not that gate against me, Lord, But let me enter in. 

-Richard, of Snows Hill Gloucestershire, died Nov. 5, 1732, aged 24. 

also Sarah, d. Aug. 4, 1787 ag. 16. ootstone T. T. 1781, E. T. 1843. 

How vain are all encomiums on the dead ! 

How vain the stone with empty praise o’erspread! 

No stately tomb can sooth the weeping wife, 

No choice inscription raise the friend to life, 

Death levels all; the monarch and the slave 
Alike must lie unnoticed in the grave. 

Wrigiitson, Louisa, daughter of Samuel and Anne, d. Aug, 1, 1802, ag. 6 years 
6 months. 

YEATMAN, Margaret, w. of Robt. Yeatmam, Yeoman, d. Aug. 2, 1750, ag. 25. 
also Robert Yeatinan, yeoman, d. Feb. 19, 1792, ag. 74. Martha, w. of Rob. 
Fisher, died Sep. 7, 1812, aged 87. Robert Fisher, died Dec. 9, 1829, aged 72. 
Fie died in peace, hut lived in pain, A welcome death his greatest gain. 

The following were once found in Bamp. cliurch-yard, hut have been destroyed; 
Why should you mourn for I Seeing it is God’s will 
That man was born to die The Scripture to fulfil. 

For the loss of friends Is much. 

Do no evil for the Devil Will have you if you do, 

Better ’twere given to you in Heaven To join the blessed few. 









174 


HISTORY OF BAMPTON. 


Tliis world’s a city full of crooked streets, 

Death- is the market-place where all men meets; 

Were life a merchandize that wealth could buy, 

The rich would live, none but the poor would die. 

XXIV. IN ASTON- CHURCH-YARD. 

BAKER, Mr Rd, d. Ang. 21, 1815 ag. 58. Selina, dr. of Rd & Susanna, d. July 
10, 1845, ag. 18. William, then son, died Aug. 26, 1845, aged 12/yrs. 
Banting, Ann, dr. of Jn & Ann, d. June 26, 1846, ag. 34. Weep not &c. see p. 
163. 

SPARROWHAWK, Mr. Wm, yeoman, died Jan. 27, 1842, aged 56 years. 
TOWNSEND, John, son of Joseph and Jane T., d. Feb. 11, 1846, ag. 36. 

Short was the warning that Death gave, When I was summon’d to the grave : 
So God was pleased to end my time, And cut me off just in my prime. 

-Alfred, j/oungest son of David Watts T. & Sarah his w., of Coate 

d. March 2, 1842, aged 16 years. 

Just in my youth and blooming years, I left my friends with weeping tears: 
God called in haste ; my soul did fly : I’m gone to rest eternally. 

XXV. IN LEW CHUIICH-YARD. 

BATTS, Phoebe, dr. of Robert and Phoebe B., d. Dec. 5, 1845} aged 19 yrs. 
Grieve not for me, my parents dear, I’m gone to rest you need not fear, 

God call’d in haste; my soul did fly ; I’m gone to rest eternally, 

In love we lived : in peace I died; You craved my life but God denied. 

Here lies a child that’s dear to me ; Christ call’d her hence his joys to see. 

I hope in Heaven I shall her And, Which heals the troubles of my mind. 

XXVI. IN SJIIFFORD CHURCH AND CIIURCH-YARD. 

BAGGS, William, son of John and Elizabeth, d. Jan. 10, 1717, aged 20. 

-Aaron,, died Nov. 18, 1726. 

Bennet, Edward, died Nov. 11, 1729, aged 78. 

Blithe, Mrs. Susan, w. of Mr. Adam Blithe, rector ofOgbourne St. George Wilts., 
Her father, Mr. Andreas Sonibanke, was a near relation to the Duke of Bruns¬ 
wick : her mother was ol’ the ancient family of the Bradfords, of Ludlow, in 
Shropshire. This gentlewoman in her life-time made this following epitaph, to 
be set upon her tomb. Christ, birth, life, death, And doleful payne. 

In life and death, to me is gaine. 

She died Nov. 9, 1645, aged 75 years, and left issue only one daughter. 

Brown, Sophia, wife of Thomas B., of Brighthampton, d. Feb. 10, 1843, ag. 45, 

A loving wife, a tender mother dear, A youthful friend lies buried here : 

She lived belov’d, in peace she died, Her life was desired, but God denied, 
also Sarah Ann, daughter of 1 homas and Sophia B., d. Oct. 2, 1835, ag. 4 yrs. 

-Thomas, son of Thos. and Sophia, of Brighthampton, d. May 1, 1843, 

aged 22. 

With patience to the last &c. [Inscrip, see Susanna Collins.] 

DARBY, Robert, late of Aston, d. Dec. 15, 1811, aged 72. 

-Robert late of Cote, Smith and Farrier, d. Sep. 17 1772, aged 73. also 

Mary his wife, d. Mar 30, 1801, aged 102 yrs. 11 ms. 

LAMBETH, Thomas, d. May 15, 1803, aged 84. 

Long, Maria, w. of James, d. Oct. 18, 1819, ag. 24. 

F arewell, vain world ! I bid adieu to thee, I value not what thou canst say of me ; 
What faults thou seest in me,take care to shun, And look at home; enough there’s 
PINNOCK, William, d. Jan. 23, 1794, ag. 50. [to be done. 

.-Mary, w., of John P:, and dr. of John and Ann Walter, of Stanton- 





175 


APPENDIX, NO XX. 

Harcourt, d. May 15, 1800, ag. 27. 

- - Elizth, w. of Thomas, late of Brighthampton, d. May 23, 1817, ag. 83.. 

While here on earth a true and faithful friend, 

Esteem’d by those who knew her to the end, 

She never at the will of God repined, 

But still enjoy’d a calm and heaven^ mind, 

Made God her refuge, in him put her trust,. 

And to his care resign’d her earthly dust. 

-Thomas, late Brighthampton, d. Sep. 39, 1818, ag. 53. 

Afflictions sore long time I bore, And racking pains did long endure. 

But did submit when God thought fit, Beneath I lie from pains releas’d. 

-Hannah, w. of Joseph, d. Noy. 12, 1821, ag. 43. 

My latter days on earth was spent In pain severe, which God hath sent r 
But no (v in peace I’m laid to sleep, With J esus Christ 1 hope to meet; 

My sorrow’s past, also my pain, We only part to meet again. 

•-Hannah, w. of ffm P., late of Brighthampt., d. Dec. 22, 1822, ag. 62. 

Weep not for me, my children dear, Nor spend your hours in grief; 

To Heaven address your fervent prayer. And there you’ll find relief. 

Despise this world, and onward press To reach the happy shore 
Where troubles end and sorrows cease, And tears shall flow no more. 

-Hannah Maria, dr. of Wm & Hannah, d. July 18, 1823, ag. 20 yrs. 

You readers all that passeth by, Pray think of death for you must die : 

Repent in time, make no delay, I in my prime was call’d away ; 

My days are spent, my glass is run, And now, sweet Jesus, I am come ! 

-Charles, late of Brighthampton, d. Apr. 99, 1828, ag. 83 yrs. 

Sincere to all, and upright in his ways, And all his actions justly merit praise. 
Blessed be those who live beloved by most, And died lamented are the greatest 

-Mercy, w. of Th. d. Ap.22,1833,ag.34. Ellen, their infant dr. [loss. 

also Esther, their daughter, d. Aug. 19, 1838, ag. 14. 

-Martha, dr. of Thos and Mercy P., d. Aug. 12, 1835, ag. 15 yrs. 

-Martha, wife of Thomas, d. Jan. 6, 1836, ag. 71. 

A pale consumption gave the fatal blow, 

The stroke was certain, but th’ effect was slow. 

With wasting pain death found me sore opprest, 

Pitied my sighs and kindly gave me rest, 

.-John, late of Standlake, d. suddenly Nov. 22, 1841, ag. 69. Caroline, 

daughter of John and Mary P., d. Oct 26, 1841. also Esau,, their infant son. 
Pryor, Wm, d. Ap. 5, 1723, ag. 52. insc. as above, see T. Brown. 

WIGINGS, William, and Mary, his w., he d. March..., 1727, ag. 60. she d. Doc. 
18, 1729, ag. 71. 

Wherefore this is yet once again, My husband, my request, 

To grant me pardon for my sin, That I in thee may rest. 

Withers, Margery, w. of Waller W. of Brighthampton, d. Feb. 3, 1728, ag. 68. 
Wright, John d. July 25, 1706, ag. 15. 

.-Mary, w. of Wm, late of Chimney, d. May 10, 1810, ag. 60. William, 

their son, d. Aug. 20, 1786, ag. 21. also Sarah their dr., d. Sep. 26, 1/06, ag. 10. 

XXVII. IN COTE CHAPEL AND BURIAL-GROUND. 

BAKER, John, of Yelford, d. Ap. 13, 1803, ag. 75. Mary, & Sarah, his wives, 
Marv, d. July 29, 1760, ag. 75 : Sarah, d. April 20, 1801, ag. 57. 

-Thomas, d. March 17, 1808, ag. 35. 

COOMBS, Thos, d. Feb. 17, 1819, ag. 87. Elizth, his w., d. Jan. 17, 1828, ag. 87. 
Behold her ancestors, a pious race, Rang’d in fair order at her sight rejoice, 

And sing her welcome. 

Cure. John, d. July 18, 1837, ag. 77. Barb., his w., d. Aug. 18, 1836, ag. 72. 
Behold the husband and the wife, Now joined together as in life: 














176 


HISTORY OF HAMPTON. 


We hope their souls are now at rest, In Jesus Christ for ever hlest. 
DUNSCOMBE, Thomas, M. A., of Broughton, Hants, d. at Faringdon, Oct. 4, 
1811; ag. 63 : 36 years pastor of the church meeting in this place. 

Nature, be calm ! ye streaming tears, be dry ! 

The love, which prompts, should check the selfish sigh, 

Though fond affection long’d and hoped in vain, 

To his lov’d home to welcome him again, 

A nobler home is his, and bliss divine, 

In realms where love & truth unclouded shine, 

The Saviour’s voice pronounc’d the blest decree, 

That where he is, there must his followers he. 

Durfort, Fredk, son of John and Eliza, of London, killed July 21, 1813, ag. 12. 
FRANCIS, Richard, of Southleigh, d. March 28, 1822, ag. 66: deacon of the 
church in this place 26 years. Mary, his w., d. Dec. 22, 1816, ag. 60. 

-Maiy, 3d dr. of Wm F., of London, grd-dau. of Rich. & Mary R., d. 

Freeman, 3 children of Jos. and Mary F., d. infants. [Nov 11,1844, ag. 32. 
GILES, Richard, of Gaunt house, d. June 3, 1836, ag. 49. 

PECKS, James, d. Aug, 10, 1811, ag. 18. John, d. Sep. 23, 1809, ag. 13. Thomas 
d. Dec. 23, 1811, ag. 11 ; all three, sons of Thos & Hannah P. 

Pinnock, John, sen., d. Ap. 6, 1803, ag. 54. John P. Jun., d. Feb. 6,1803, ag. 27 : 

-Violetta, late of Brighth., d. Oct. 12, 1839, ag. 40. [both of Chimney. 

-Jane, w. of Jos., of Hardwicke, & dr. of Sami Williams, of Kingstone- 

Lisle, Berks, d. Dec. 13, 1839, ag. 42. 

SPIERS, John, late of Standlake, d. Feb. 25, 1813, ag. 68. 

WALLIS, Martha, & Mary Talbot twin drs. of WmT. & Abigail Wallis, d. Dec. 
20, 1835, ag. 2 years 9 months. 

Touched by Christ’s hand in smiles they’ll rise, They’ll rise to sleep no more, 

But robed in light and crown’d with joy, To endless joy will soar. 

■-Rd, d. Aug. 16, 1740, ag. 69. Deborah, his w., d. Ap. 15, 1758, ag. 69. 

Richd, their son, d. June 23.1733, ag. 16. Violetta, their dr., d. Mar. 14, 1737, 
ag. 16. 

Williams, James, of Southly, d. July 10, 1785, ag. 71. 

-Samuel, d. Nov. 14, 1789, ag. 62. 

-Abiah, w. of Ebenezer W., of Bamp., youngest dr of Mr. Collet, pastor 

of the church meeting here, d. Feb. 4, 1790, ag. 73. 

--Benjn, of this neighbourhood, d. Jan. 27, 1792, ag. 74. Rebecca, his 

2nd w., who d. 3 months before, of the same age. 

-Ebenezer, of Cote, d. Jan. 26, 1786, ag. 82. 

•-Joseph, of Bampton, d. Dec. 14, 1802, ag. 56 

-Mr. Wm, of New Sliifford, d. Jan. 23, 1830, ag. 72. 

Not in my innocence I trust; I bow before thee in the dust: 

And through my Saviour’s blood alone I look for mercy at thy throne. 
Williams, John, & Mary, his w., of Old Sliifford, he d. Jan. 21, 1801, ag. 75. she 
died Nov. 9, 1837, ag. 92. 

-Ruth, dr. of Wm and Jane, of Notgrove, Gloucestershire, and w., of Pe¬ 
ter W., of Standlake, d. Oct. 31, 1811, ag. 34. also 4 children, Ebenezer, ag. 5, 
and three infants. 

-Boaz, s. of Peter, and Ruth, of Old Shiff., d. May 7, 1832, ag. 32. 

-Jas, & Ann his w., shed. Jan. 16,1811, ag. 29. he d. Dec. 9, 1839, ag. 73. 


XXVIII. THE CHRISTMAS PLAY, A MUMMERY PERFORMED BY 
THE MUMMERS OF BAMPTON ON CHRISTMAS-EVE, A.D . 1847. 

N. B. The following verses are principally the author’s own composition being written in imitation 
of what he remembers to have heard in Somersetshire many years ago, when Mumming and many 
other old customs were still in use. The lines which are enclosed between inverted commas are the 
only ones which he remembers as thoroughly genuine. 















A CHRISTMAS MUMMERY. 


177 


CHARACTERS: — Father Christmas — Saint George — The Turkish 
Knight — The Doctor — Robin IIoocl — Little John. 


A CHRISTMAS MUMMERY. 

FATHER CHRISTMAS. 

“Here comes I Old Father Clmstmas; welcome or welcome not,” 
“ I hope old father Christmas will never be forgot.” 

There is a time for work, and there is a time for play . 

A time for to be melancholy, and for to be gay : 

A time for to he thrifty and a time for to be free: 

But, sure enough, at Christmas tide we all may jovial be : 

This is the time when Christ did come that we might happy be. 
So listen, all ye gentles, to what we now shall say, 

And take in kindness what we do to celebrate this day. 

St. George, the Doctor and the Turk are here together met; 

The Doctor has his physic and the knights’ swords are sharp set: 
The one will kill the other and the Doctor raise him up, 

And then we all shall happy be with each his Christmas cup. 
And Robin Hood and little John will pass the beer-pot round, 

For two more jolly chaps on earth there never yet were found. 

So ladies all and gentlemen we pray you give good cheer 
To Old Father Christmas, for he comes but once a year! 

Saint George. 

“Here comes I, Saint George the knight,” 

Who with the pagans used to fight. 

And with my sword and spear and valiant shield 
Can make a host of advei-saries yield, 

I swear ’tis true, for though I am so pliant, 

In battle I’m as stout as any giant, 

And though I am so thin, can eat a calf, 

And yet not fill my belly — no, not half. 

Whoever doubts my word, just let him come, 

I’ll slice him till he’s blind and deaf and dumb. 

The Turkish kniuht. 

“Here comes I the Turkish knight,” 

“ Come from Turkish lands to fight,” 

With brave Saint George, if he is here: 

And, if his heart don’t quake with fear, 

I’ll cut it out with my sharp sword, 

And eat it, — that I will upon my word. 

So let him come, if he will be so bold, 

And if his blood is hot, I’ll make it cold. 

— They fight — the Turkish knight falls — 

Saint George. 

Is there no doctor in the land ? 

Doctor. 

There is a doctor in the land, 

Skilful both in head and hand, 

For if a man has got a cough,. 

I’ll cure him without cutting his head ofr; 

And if a man has lost his head, 

I’ll put a Donkey’s on instead, 

And, if he will but pay me well, 

The secret I will never tell, 

But, if he will not pay, I’ll leave the sinner 



178 


A CHRISTMAS MUMMERY. 


To eat- a bunch of thistles for his dinner. 

ROBIN HOOD. 

And here comes I, bold Robin Hood, 

With bended bow of yew-tree wood, 

And arrows sharp, and for my quiver 
I choose an alderman’s fat liver. 

Under the green wood tree, 

Merrily come with me, 

To hunt the deer with horn and hound, 

We take our joyous way, 

And when we’ve done, with nut-brown ale 
To cheer the hunting day, 

With Little John and friar Tuck, 

We roast and eat the slaughter’d buck. 

LITTLE JOHN. 

And here comes I, brave Little John. 

With quarter-staff I play the don, 

I’m not the man to cheat or cozen 

But knock men’s brains out by the dozen— 

But hold, my jolly comrades, by your leave, 

All here are friends and this is Christmas eve, 

Put up your swords, brave knights, and, Robin Hood, 
Slacken your bended-bow of yew-tree wood, 

And, Doctor, no more physic, for to-day 
1 hope will prove a feast and not a fray, 

And that all who are here, and friar Tuck, 

Who’s ill in bed at home, may have good luck. 

So, if what we have said should please this quorum, 
We’ll drink to all their honours in a jorum ! 


Postscript to the first edition. 

If this book should fall into the hands of a critic, I beg to caution 
him against exercising the privileges of his craft on a work which was 
never meant for his inspection and therefore cannot justly be the victim 
of his censure. It has been compiled for the inhabitants of a small 
country-town, who invited the author to write it, for their amusement, 
and partly, also, out of regard for the place in which they live. If there¬ 
fore, strangers, who cannot sympathize with the writer, his subject, or 
his readers, shall venture to pull it in pieces, such critics had better never 
pass through the town of Hampton, for all its inhabitants will most 
assuredly rise in its defence. 

John Allen Giles, Curate of Hampton, Pirst Portion, 

April 3, 1848. 


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